The Pentagon has initiated a $6 billion program to develop AI-guided planes for enhanced tactical early warning. This program, called the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), aims to add at least 1,000 new drones to the U.S. Air Force. The drones will work alongside human-piloted jets, providing cover and acting as escorts with full weapons capabilities. Several private companies, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Anduril Industries, are competing for the contracts to develop these AI-guided aircraft.
Boeing is the only company that has showcased its entrant, known as the Ghost Bat. The Ghost Bat is designed to work with existing military aircraft and can fly just below the speed of sound while traveling over 2,000 nautical miles. It offers features such as tactical early warning and other intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. However, the highlight of the Ghost Bat, according to Boeing, is its “low-cost design.” Cost-cutting is a significant factor that appeals to the Pentagon in pursuing this AI-guided aircraft project.
Anduril Industries, a newcomer in the field founded by Palmer Luckey in 2017, has showcased the potential of its AI-powered drone called the Roadrunner. The Roadrunner is a jet-powered combat drone that utilizes AI navigation. Anduril’s Chief Strategy Officer Christian Brose described it as a “very low-cost, very high quantity, increasingly sophisticated and advanced aerial threat.” While it is unclear if the Roadrunner will serve as Anduril’s entry for the CCA project, it demonstrates the company’s ability to produce reusable drones with various capabilities.
General Atomics has actively promoted its CCA “ecosystem,” featuring its Avenger Unmanned Aircraft System paired with “digital twin” aircraft that can autonomously conduct collaborative combat missions. The company has conducted tests as early as late 2022, showcasing its commitment to maturing its CCA ecosystem using AI and machine learning. General Atomics’ Senior Director of Advanced Programs, Michael Atwood, believes that their capabilities are quickly maturing as they move towards operationalizing autonomy for CCAs.
Lockheed Martin has integrated AI into its planes, updating its VISTA X-62A training plane with AI operating systems. The plane was piloted by AI for 17 hours in early 2023, demonstrating the company’s ability to implement artificial intelligence into aircraft. The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School has praised the increased potential to rapidly evolve air tactics and combat capabilities with the integration of AI.
Northrop Grumman has not indicated or displayed its potential AI CCA unit, leaving their entry for the project uncertain.
The development of AI-guided planes for enhanced tactical early warning aligns with the Pentagon’s goal of utilizing AI-enabled autonomous vehicles to provide “small, smart, cheap, and many” expendable units to the U.S. military. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks believes this will help overhaul the slow shift of military innovation. The Pentagon’s two contracts for private companies to develop AI-guided aircraft reflect their commitment to advancing military capabilities through AI technology.
In conclusion, the Pentagon’s $6 billion program to develop AI-guided planes marks a significant step towards enhancing tactical early warning capabilities. Private companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Anduril Industries, and Northrop Grumman are competing for the contracts to develop these advanced drones. With features such as tactical early warning, intelligence gathering, and low-cost designs, these AI-guided planes have the potential to revolutionize military operations and provide valuable support to human-piloted jets. As the development of AI in the military continues to progress, we can expect these AI-guided planes to play a crucial role in future combat scenarios.
