AlphaDogfight trials foreshadow future of human-machine symbiosis

A small Maryland company took first place in last week's AlphaDogfight Trials Final event, a three-day competition designed to demonstrate advanced algorithms capable of performing simulated, within-visual-range air combat maneuvering – commonly known as a dogfight. Heron Systems' F-16 AI agent defeated seven other companies' F-16 AI agents and then went on to dominate the main event – a series of simulated dogfights against an experienced Air Force F-16 pilot – winning 5-0 through aggressive and precise maneuvers the human pilot couldn't outmatch. "The AlphaDogfight Trials were a phenomenal success, accomplishing exactly what we'd set out to do," said Col. Dan "Animal" Javorsek, program manager in DARPA's Strategic Technology Office. "The goal was to earn the respect of a fighter pilot – and ultimately the broader fighter pilot community – by demonstrating that an AI agent can quickly and effectively learn basic fighter maneuvers and successfully employ them in a simulated dogfight." The trials were designed to energize and expand a base of AI developers for DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program.