Autonomous F-16s and F-35s... not remote/drone but actually autonomous. !

[JoeStuckInOH]

How many people have heard or knew about this?
I heard this in a conversation today and had to look it up.

The ability to tell an F-16 to attack a target (air-to-air or air-to-ground strikes) and it then goes ahead and figures out how to do it and executes the mission. Not just a pre-programmed flight path and mission, but actual autonomy. I guess in the trials they even "surprised" it with enemy air threats and it responded to them and then continued on about it's original objective.


I know the military has been doing this for years with testing autonomous helicopters and cargo drops. But actually having a warplane able to execute kinetic strikes and even respond to incoming threats is a whole other level of, frankly, scariness. I think the primary enabler is the fly-by-wire nature of the F16... but then if you think about it, the F35 is also all fly-by-wire so there's no reason to think stealth fighters couldn't be flying around autonomously, too. And beyond that, without having to support a pilot and limiting the planes performance to the human's capabilities... if you designed a new small fighter jet around the idea that it is only going t obe autonomous... well that's going to be amazing.

https://themerkle.com/us-air-force-successfully-trials-autonomous-f-16s-in-combat-situations/

[gratuitous]

1. And it'll be totally unhackable, for sure

So it can never be turned against its owner.

[BamaRefugee]

3. oh absolutely, believe me! Bigly!

[elehhhhna]

5. Yeah bad idea.

A childhood friend who works for the NSA recently confirmed ghat of course weapon systems are a huge hacking target and, and you may not find out that they've been successful until you are screwed.

Obviously this is obvious but since he evidently works on something relevant I thought it was fascinating.

I'm really happy this guy works at the NSA. Smartest kid I've ever met. I think the NSA staff sacrifices a lot for their jobs. Personal sacrifices.

If you are reading this, NSA, and you know you are – thank you for your service . YOU are true badasses who have to Bruce Wayne/Clark Kent it every day.

[tblue37]

6. What could possibly go wrong?

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[Orrex]

2. "Afterwards, they fly with a perfect operational record."

[BamaRefugee]

4. In the future, when we see someone in uniform, we'll say:

"THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROGRAMMING!"

Way better than offering endless "thoughts and prayers"!

[Liberallover976]

7. Decepticons

How long till we get Starscream?

[Adrahil]

8. I've worked in aviation automation for a long time....

Right now, it's reasonably limited in capability, but in 10-20 years....

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Is there a reason to believe a Belgian bitcoin enthusiast had inside knowledge of USAF tests?

If this was the only source you found, I expect it's made up.

[HAB911]

10. Air Force, Lockheed Martin Demonstrate Manned/Unmanned Teaming

http://news.lockheedmartin.com/2017-04-10-U-S-Air-Force-Lockheed-Martin-Demonstrate-Manned-Unmanned-Teaming

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/04/10/US-Air-Force-Lockheed-Martin-demo-unmanned-F-16/7811491828137/

http://fortune.com/2016/03/30/autonomous-fighter-jets-join-the-f-35/



Not too far out

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Thank you - those have credibility (nt)