Gp Capt A.K. Sachdev (retd)

In the summer of 2016, ALPHA, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system developed by a doctoral graduate at the University of Cincinnati was pitched against retired US Air Force Colonel Gene Lee in an air combat simulator.

Colonel Lee is an instructor who has trained thousands of US Air Force pilots and is an Air Battle Manager with experience in air combat simulations since the Eighties; ALPHA runs on Raspberry Pi — a low cost, credit-card sized computer that plugs into a computer monitor or TV, uses a standard keyboard and mouse, and costs just USD35. The contest turned out to be unevenly matched; ALPHA consistently attained an advantage over the Colonel in simulated air combat.

Considering the velocity acquired by AI evolution in recent years, it is easy to imagine what ALPHA’s successors would be capable of achieving in aerial combat when liberated from the control of (comparatively) sluggish manned control limited in swiftness by the human brain. The tactical munificence of AI — like in the example above — is but one example of how AI is transforming the core processes in military aviation acumen. In a convoluted manner, the tactical accomplishments of AI are impinging on operational, strategic and doctrinal aspects of air power. This article looks at how AI is evolving as a constituent of air power.

Empowering the Manned Combat Aircraft

While there are no universally accepted benchmarks to define levels of sophistication in combat aircraft, the current leading-edge aircraft types are called the ‘fifth generation’ and are generally distinguishable from the previous or fourth generation by improved performance, enhanced stealth, advanced avionics and integrated digital flight systems.

According to Military Factory, a website cataloguing military aircraft, there are 14 fifth generation aircraft in various stages of development; out of these the Lockheed Martin F22 Raptor has been in service since 2005 (no longer being produced), the Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning entered service in 2015, and the Chengdu J20 Black Eagle in 2017. All others in that list are yet to reach operational status but a notable fact is that already there is a flurry of activity and interest around a ‘sixth generation’ of aircraft; unsurprisingly, AI is this generation’s most significant facet.

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These aircraft are expected to be capable of optionally manned missions (with the same airframe capable of conducting AI-controlled missions), controlling a swarm of drones acting in both a defensive and reconnaissance role for the controlling aircraft, and providing batt