Lockheed Martin, the defense giant, has just hit a major milestone in the world of military aviation by successfully testing a new collaboration between human pilots and AI-controlled aircraft. This breakthrough, announced on November 21, shows how artificial intelligence can be used to help fight battles in the sky—combining the skills of human operators with the speed and precision of AI.
In a recent test, Lockheed Martin’s team demonstrated a new kind of air combat mission, where a human “battle manager” on the ground used a touchscreen to issue commands to AI-controlled fighter jets during a complex mission. The aircraft, two L-29 Delfin jets, were fully controlled by AI, while the human battle manager gave real-time instructions.
The mission itself was a simulation of an offensive counter-air operation, where the AI jets had to take on two enemy aircraft. The goal was to see how well the AI could handle real-world combat scenarios while being overseen by a human manager. The human didn’t control the aircraft directly but instead issued commands for the AI jets to follow, targeting and neutralizing the enemy.
This successful test builds on earlier work by Lockheed Martin, which has already been testing AI for other complex tasks, such as intercepting enemy aircraft. But this mission was different because it was the first to involve real-time human supervision, marking a big step forward in human-AI collaboration.
The test was a joint effort between Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division, known for developing cutting-edge military technology, and the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory. The success of this test shows how AI is becoming a real player in the future of air combat.
In the world of modern warfare, the ability to have both human pilots and AI working together in the air is seen as crucial. AI can quickly analyze data and make decisions that might take humans much longer. However, by keeping a human battle manager involved, the AI can be guided and controlled in a way that ensures ethical and strategic decisions are made.
But this isn’t just about testing new technology for the sake of it. Lockheed Martin is making these advancements to help the U.S. Air Force (USAF) prepare for future wars. AI-powered aircraft are seen as the key to making military operations safer, cheaper, and more effective. The goal is to have a fleet of more than 1,000 AI-driven unmanned jets by 2028, which would work alongside human-piloted planes, creating a much stronger force overall.
AI-controlled jets are also seen as a more cost-effective alternative to traditional fighter jets, which are becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to produce. For example, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has faced huge delays and rising costs, reaching an estimated $1.7 trillion. Meanwhile, AI-powered aircraft could provide similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost.
This kind of technology also gives the USAF a strategic advantage. Imagine a swarm of AI jets moving into enemy territory, taking out enemy defenses, and clearing the way for human pilots to follow. With AI jets doing the risky work, human pilots would have a much better chance of staying safe while still achieving their mission objectives.
As impressive as this technology is, there are still concerns about the role AI should play in warfare, especially when it comes to making life-and-death decisions. Some critics worry that AI could be given too much control in battle scenarios, leading to unintended consequences. To address these concerns, the USAF has emphasized that human operators will always have the final say in decisions involving weapons, ensuring that AI is used responsibly.
Lockheed Martin’s latest tests are just the beginning of a bigger shift toward AI in military aviation. As they continue to push the limits of what AI can do, the USAF is making sure that it will be used ethically and strategically in the future of air combat. This collaboration between human expertise and AI intelligence might just be the next big step in shaping how wars are fought in the sky.
