Page 17 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

MILITARY HISTORICAL

DARPA’S ACE WANTS COMMEMORATE BATTLE OF

TO AUTOMATE DOGFIGHTING BRITAIN 80 AT RAF MUSEUM

TO EMPOWER AI by new displays telling the wider
story, including a fine art exhibi-

020 is the 80th anniversa- tion. There will also be a series of
2ry of the Battle of Britain events for all the family, includ-

- the country’s finest hour and ing the Battle of Britain vintage

DARPA programme to build pilot this summer the Royal Air Force festival, Spitfire 10K and family

run and a Battle of Britain aircraft
Atrust in arti fi cial intelligence (AI) in Museum is inviting everyone to access event.

combat by automating dog fighting has tak- remember this significant story

en a step forward with the award of the first of bravery, international alliances COSFORD

contract and the release of a solicitation to and ingenuity at the museum Home to the world’s oldest
develop algorithms for close-in air combat. and on tour. Spitfire, the Cosford museum

Just as air combat training is used to de- The RAF Museum is free to enter houses both British and German

velop pilot performance and trust, DARPA’s and has sites at both London and aircraft from the BoB era. See

Air Combat Evolution (ACE) programme the West Midlands which are ideal the RAF’s frontline fighters, the

aims to use dogfight automation as a cru- for all the family. Spitfire, Hurricane, Gladiator and

cible to give pilots confidence that AI ‘can Defiant face to face with their

handle a high-end fight’. ON TOUR German rivals the Me 109 and
ACE will develop AI algorithms to auto- The museum is giving members Ju88, all examples of the type used

mate within-visual-range combat and test of the public a rare chance to see in the Battle of Britain. Flt Lt H P Blatchford of 257 Squadron, RAF

them first in a modelling and simulation a real Spitfire from our collection Previously unseen objects from Martlesham Heath. Credit Ministry of Defence

environment, then in subscale unmanned in various public spaces. This the museum’s archive collection

aircraft and finally in live 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 will include Coventry, Telford, and a Dowding System interactive

combat between full-size fighters. scaling the algorithms from local combat last month with multiple awards planned. Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Cosford, area will enhance the aircraft

DARPA argues that dog fighting is less autonomy to large force exercises. In a bid to mobilise the AI community Wolverhampton and Barnet. displays. The summer events pro-

difficult to automate than it appears TA3 is one of four technical areas under around the idea of automating within-visu- The Spitfire on tour will enable gramme will include the popular

because the solution space is bounded. ACE. TA1 involves developing algorithms al-range combat, DARPA has sponsored the members of the public to find out Spitfire 10K and family run and

Instead the challenge is enabling the for local combat autonomy; TA2 is building Alpha Dogfight Trials - a virtual competition more about this iconic aircraft and a prom night with musical acts
pilot to trust the AI, and ACE will develop trust in those local behaviours; and TA4 to demonstrate AI algorithms ahead of the the role each town and city played suitable for all the family.
methods of modelling and measuring involves integrating those algorithms into TA1 development phase. during the BoB. Earlier this year the RAF Muse-

trust, including cross check ratio - essen- full-scale aircraft and conducting live flight Eight teams from academia and indus- LONDON um launched the Hurricane 80K

tially how often the pilot grabs the stick to experiments. try were selected in October 2019. The challenge, a virtual race commem-

counteract the automation. DARPA plans to awards contracts to final event at the AFWERX innovation hub The London Museum is home to orating 80 years since the Battle

The first contract under ACE, worth (US) two performers for TA3, scale-up, and this month will pit the best AI-based dog the most complete set of Battle took place. Here participants have

$10.6 million, has been awarded to Lock- one each for TA2 and TA4. The broad area fighting system against the best pilots of Britain aircraft in the world exactly 80 days to complete 80K
including the ‘fighter four’ or

heed Martin’s Skunk Works for Technical announcement for TA1, algorithm devel- from the US air force weapons school, Spitfire, Hurricane, Messerschmitt and be rewarded with a bespoke

Area 3 of the programme. This involves opment and demonstration, was released said DARPA. Q challenge medal with proceeds to

109 and Fiat CR42, all participants go the RAF Museum, a registered

in the Battle of Britain. charity. For more details visit raf-
INDIA BEATS RUSSIA, POLAND This year they will be supported museum.org Q Debriefing a pilot of 19 Squadron, RAF

RAF MUSEUM BATTLE OF BRITAIN AIRCRAFT Fowlmere. Credit Ministry of Defence
TO BAG DEFENCE DEAL IN EUROPE AIRCRAFT ROLE RAF MUSEUM
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 German fighter aircraft London

Armenia has already started and this is ent weapons at different locations. Hawker Hurricane Mk I British Fighter London

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 Supermarine Spitfire Mk I British Fighter London
defence sector, they said.

Ideal worth (US) $40 million to supply line of control in Jammu and Kashmir Fiat CR.42 Italian fighter London
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 Junkers Ju 87G-2 Stuka German dive bomber London

radars to Armenia by beating Russian and Poland that were also good but they given for trial by the army in 2018. Heinkel He 111H-20 German bomber London

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 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV Light bomber London
weapon locating radars developed by The contract is for four Swathi weapon sale of its indigenous systems, which Boulton Paul Defiant Mk I British Fighter Cosford

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. Junkers Ju 88R German night fighter Cosford

by the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) weapons like mortars, shells and rockets The Defence ministry is also now Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc British Fighter Cosford

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 Supermarine Spitfire Mk I British Fighter Cosford

The supply of the equipment to multiple projectiles fired from differ- countries. Q Gloster Gladiator Mk I Biplane fighter Cosford
Pilots of 504 Squadron scramble, RAF Filton
Messerschmitt Bf 109 German fighter aircraft Cosford October 1940. Credit RAF Museum Collection

World Airnews | April 2020 World Airnews | April 2020
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