Page 16 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

MILITARY

DARPA’S ACE WANTS

TO AUTOMATE DOGFIGHTING

TO EMPOWER AI

DARPA programme to build pilot
Atrust in arti fi cial intelligence (AI) in
combat by automating dog fighting has tak-

en a step forward with the award of the first
contract and the release of a solicitation to

develop algorithms for close-in air combat.
Just as air combat training is used to de-
velop pilot performance and trust, DARPA’s
Air Combat Evolution (ACE) programme

aims to use dogfight automation as a cru-

cible to give pilots confidence that AI ‘can
handle a high-end fight’.

ACE will develop AI algorithms to auto-
mate within-visual-range combat and test
them first in a modelling and simulation

environment, then in subscale unmanned

aircraft and finally in live 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2
combat between full-size fighters. scaling the algorithms from local combat last month with multiple awards planned.

DARPA argues that dog fighting is less autonomy to large force exercises. In a bid to mobilise the AI community

difficult to automate than it appears TA3 is one of four technical areas under around the idea of automating within-visu-

because the solution space is bounded. ACE. TA1 involves developing algorithms al-range combat, DARPA has sponsored the

Instead the challenge is enabling the for local combat autonomy; TA2 is building Alpha Dogfight Trials - a virtual competition

pilot to trust the AI, and ACE will develop trust in those local behaviours; and TA4 to demonstrate AI algorithms ahead of the

methods of modelling and measuring involves integrating those algorithms into TA1 development phase.

trust, including cross check ratio - essen- full-scale aircraft and conducting live flight Eight teams from academia and indus-
tially how often the pilot grabs the stick to experiments. try were selected in October 2019. The

counteract the automation. DARPA plans to awards contracts to final event at the AFWERX innovation hub
The first contract under ACE, worth (US) two performers for TA3, scale-up, and this month will pit the best AI-based dog

$10.6 million, has been awarded to Lock- one each for TA2 and TA4. The broad area fighting system against the best pilots
heed Martin’s Skunk Works for Technical announcement for TA1, algorithm devel- from the US air force weapons school,

Area 3 of the programme. This involves opment and demonstration, was released said DARPA. Q
INDIA BEATS RUSSIA, POLAND
TO BAG DEFENCE DEAL IN EUROPE
Armenia has already started and this is ent weapons at different locations.
being considered as a big achievement The Indian army is also using the same
n a major success, India has bagged a for ‘Make in India’ programme in the radars for its operations along the
defence sector, they said.
Ideal worth (US) $40 million to supply line of control in Jammu and Kashmir
where they trace the source of attack
Sources said Armenians had conduct-
four indigenously-built weapon locating ed trials of systems offered by Russia by Pakistani positions. The system was

radars to Armenia by beating Russian and Poland that were also good but they given for trial by the army in 2018.
and Polish firms. decided to go for the reliable Indian Officials said the export order will

“The deal is for supplying four Swathi system. help India open a new market for the

weapon locating radars developed by The contract is for four Swathi weapon sale of its indigenous systems, which
the Defence Research and Development locating radars which provide fast, au- are cheaper than their European and

Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured tomatic and accurate location of enemy other rivals.

by the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) weapons like mortars, shells and rockets The Defence ministry is also now
to Armenia in Europe,” government in its 50-km range. looking at other orders from South-East
sources have said. The radar can simultaneously handle Asia, Latin America and Middle-East

The supply of the equipment to multiple projectiles fired from differ- countries. Q
World Airnews | April 2020
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