June 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace

Robotic fighter jets could soon join military pilots on combat missions. Here's why.

By Jeremy Hsu

Military pilots may soon have a new kind of wingman to depend upon: not flesh-and-blood pilots but fast-flying, sensor-studded aerial drones that fly into combat to scout enemy targets and draw enemy fire that otherwise would be directed at human-piloted aircraft.

War planners see these robotic wingmen as a way to amplify air power while sparing pilots' lives and preventing the loss of sophisticated fighter jets, which can cost more than $100 million apiece.

"These drone aircraft are a way to get at that in a more cost-effective manner, which I think is really a game-changer for the Air Force," says Paul Scharre, director of the technology and national security program at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank in Washington, D.C.

Unlike slow-moving drones such as the Reaper and the Global Hawk, which are flown remotely by pilots on the ground, the new combat drones would be able to operate with minimal input from human pilots. To do that, they'd be equipped with artificial intelligence systems that give them the ability not only to fly but also to learn from and respond to the needs of the pilots they fly alongside.

"The term we use in the Air Force is quarterbacking," says Will Roper, assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics and one of the experts working to develop the AI wingmen. "So the pilot is calling a play and knows how the systems will respond, but doesn't have to run the play for them."

Training a robotic wingman

Earlier this year, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory took an important step in the development of the AI wingmen by announcing its Skyborg program focused on developing the AI necessary to control the drones. As part of the program, Air Force pilots are already flying simulated missions alongside the drones. Roper says drones like the XQ-58A Valkyrie, a 652-mph drone built by Sacramento-based Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems with a projected manufacturing cost of $2 million apiece, could be AI-enabled and ready to fly within the next three years.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the AI becomes tailored to individual pilots," Roper says. "They're actually training their own AI that augments their strengths and weaknesses."

The U.S. military isn't alone in working to develop fighter drones. The Future Combat Air System is a $74-million, two-year deal between Germany and France aimed at building a next-generation fighter that would act as a flying command center for swarms of the fighter drones.

And the Royal Australian Air Force has teamed up with Boeing to develop an AI-controlled drone with "fighter-like performance" that could accompany human-piloted aircraft or fly solo, Shane Arnott, director of Boeing Australia, says.

The latter program plans for the first test flight to take place in 2020, with the goal of eventually selling the system worldwide.

Partners or replacements?

Given the rise of drones and AI, some experts question whether it makes sense to continue sending human pilots into harm's way. Why not have people on the ground or in an airborne command center give orders to swarms of combat drones — and let them carry out the mission on their own?

"If you just make the human go fly in combat and their wingman is a drone, it doesn't change their risk profile at all — it only adds to their workload," says Missy Cummings, director of the humans and autonomy laboratory at Duke University and a former fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy.

Scharre says the military still needs humans "forward in the fight" to guide combat drones. But he too sees a coming shift in the role of combat pilots — from flying a fighter jet and controlling its weapons systems to acting as a "battle manager" who decides what actions need to be taken by piloted and drone aircraft. That will likely include deciding when drones should use deadly force and selecting specific targets — decisions that the U.S. military is hesitant to hand over entirely to AI in part because research suggests AI is less skilled than humans at adapting to changing or uncertain situations.

"A country that does not have pilots trained as good as we do might see appeal in shifting more and more of their mission to autonomous systems," Roper says. "Well, if they do that, I think we will have the advantage, because those autonomous systems acting alone will never be able to do what people teamed with machines are able to do."

https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/robotic-fighter-jets-could-soon-join-military-pilots-combat-missions-ncna1014501

On the same subject

October 9, 2018 | International, Aerospace

Voici le tableau de bord “portable et virtuel” qui équipera un avion de chasse nouvelle génération
par Yohan Demeure Abandonner les instruments traditionnels actuellement utilisés pour piloter, et adopter une planche virtuelle qui fera office de tableau de bord. Voici le concept qui équipera un avion de chasse nouvelle génération. Adieu boutons, cadrans, manettes, etc. Place au virtuel dans les futurs avions de chasse ! Il s'agit d'un projet développé par BAE Systems, une société britannique œuvrant dans les secteurs de la défense et de l'aérospatial. Selon un communiquépublié le 21 septembre 2018, il est question d'un tableau de bord vierge, sur lequel sera projetée l'intégralité des informations de vol depuis le casque du pilote, une sorte de cockpit portable (wearable cockpit). Le but est ici de permettre au pilote de ne plus l'cher le manche des mains en cours de vol, et d'éviter à ce dernier de se perdre dans une multitude d'informations. Le tableau de bord virtuel est équipé d'une intelligence artificielle et d'un système de détection du regard. Il est destiné à être reconfigurable à souhait, adaptable au contexte du moment, mais également évolutif (voir schéma ci-dessous). «Le point le plus important sera de déterminer l'objectif du pilote, et d'utiliser des systèmes intelligents pour assurer la performance des t'ches et réduire la charge de travail du pilote. Nous voulons faire cela de manière à ne pas toujours demander la permission, car cela deviendrait rapidement très pénible, mais il est essentiel que le pilote sache clairement quelle est la t'che exécutée par le système intelligent », a déclaré Jean Page, responsable technique du projet. Il s'agit ici clairement de vaincre ce que l'on appelle la tunnélisation de l'attention(ou tunnélisation attentionnelle). C'est le fait que le pilote se focalise à 100 % sur un éventuel problème en cours de vol, ignorant les alertes des paramètres de vol. Cela peut même aller jusqu'aux manœuvres de pilotage les plus élémentaires, qui conduisent à la perte de contrôle puis à l'accident. Selon BAE Systems, ce nouveau dispositif actuellement en développement est destiné à équiper le futur avion de chasse Eurofighter Tempest, qui vise à remplacer l'Eurofighter Typhoon dès 2025. Il s'agit d'un avion développé par le consortium Eurofighter GmbH (Royaume-Uni, Italie, Allemagne et Espagne). Sources : New Atlas – Futura Sciences https://sciencepost.fr/2018/10/voici-le-tableau-de-bord-portable-et-virtuel-qui-equipera-un-avion-de-chasse-nouvelle-generation/
July 9, 2022 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Le PDG de Leonardo demande à la Banque européenne d'investissement de permettre le financement des projets militaires
DÉFENSE Le PDG de Leonardo demande à la Banque européenne d'investissement de permettre le financement des projets militaires Le PDG de Leonardo, Alessandro Profumo, a appelé à une révision de la politique de prêt de la Banque européenne d'investissement (BEI) pour lui permettre de financer des projets militaires à la suite de l'invasion de l'Ukraine par la Russie. Il a notamment déclaré que le conflit avait « considérablement modifié la position de nombreux pays européens à l'égard du secteur de la Défense » et étayé l'idée selon laquelle « il n'y a pas de durabilité sans sécurité ». La BEI, l'organisme de prêt de l'UE détenu par les États membres, sert à financer des projets qui favorisent la réalisation des objectifs de l'Union, mais elle n'est pas autorisée à investir dans des activités ou des actifs de Défense essentiels tels que les munitions et les armes. La banque a refusé de commenter spécifiquement les remarques du dirigeant, mais a souligné qu'elle joue un rôle dans le soutien de l'industrie au sens large, notamment dans les projets de recherche et de développement qui ont une approche à double usage. « Un changement dans les règles de la BEI sur la manière de financer le secteur de la défense serait très pertinent en tant que créateur de tendances pour le secteur financier », estime Alessandro Profumo dans une interview au Financial Times. En mars, la banque avait accepté de soutenir le financement d'une initiative stratégique européenne de sécurité visant à renforcer les investissements en Recherche et Développement à double usage dans des domaines tels que les infrastructures et les technologies de sécurité civile. Les propositions de l'UE de l'année dernière, sur ce qui constitue une finance socialement durable, qui auraient qualifié l'industrie de la Défense de socialement nuisible, ont depuis été abandonnées. Le rapport final est « meilleur qu'il ne l'était », mais « pas encore sur la table » analyse le PDG de Leonardo. L'accès au financement est particulièrement critique pour les petites entreprises de la chaîne d'approvisionnement du secteur, qui sont cruciales pour l'innovation. Financial Times du 5 juillet
February 20, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - February 19, 2020
NAVY Bristol Engineering Services Co. LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (N39430-20-D-2221); Dawson Enterprises LLC,* Honolulu, Hawaii (N39430-20-D-2222); GSI-Pond JV LLC,* Flemington, New Jersey (N39430-20-D-2223); Reliable Contracting Group LLC,* Louisville, Kentucky (N39430-20-D-2224); Aptim Federal Services LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (N39430-20-D-2225); CAPE-Burns and McDonnell JV, Kansas City, Missouri (N39430-20-D-2226); Weston Solutions Inc., West Chester, Pennsylvania (N39430-20-D-2227); and Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions Inc., Blue Bell, Pennsylvania (N39430-20-D-2228), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract to provide sustainment, restoration and modernization services for petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL) systems at various locations worldwide. The work to be performed provides for design, engineering, inspection, testing, maintenance and repair and new construction of POL fuel systems such as pipelines, fuel storage tanks, and associated facilities at POL facilities worldwide. The maximum dollar value of the 60-month ordering period for all eight contracts combined is $880,000,000. Aptim Federal Services LLC is being awarded the seed task order in the amount of $623,600 for clean, inspect and repair services of POL fuel storage tanks located at Naval Base Point Loma. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by November 2020. All work on this contract will be performed worldwide. Based on current trends, work will be distributed to the continental U.S. (CONUS) (35%); Far East (35%); Hawaii (15%); Europe (10%); and Marianas (5%). For the CONUS locations, the 35% is estimated to be distributed to California (10.5%); Virginia (10.5%); Florida (5.25%); Washington (5.25%); Texas (1.75%); Georgia (0.35%); Louisiana (0.35%); Maryland (0.35%); Nevada (0.35%); and North Carolina (0.35%). The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of February 2025. Fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds (DWCF) in the amount of $693,600 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by DWCF. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with 18 proposals received. These eight contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $470,813,279 firm-fixed price modification (P00084) to a previously-awarded fixed-price incentive-firm contract (N00019-14-C-0050). This modification exercises options to procure six low rate initial production lot II VH-92A aircraft, interim contractor support and six cabin interior reconfiguration kits in support of the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program. Work will be performed in Stratford, Connecticut (50%); Coatesville, Pennsylvania (36%); Owego, New York (10%); Patuxent River, Maryland (3%); and Quantico, Virginia (1%), and is expected to be completed in December 2022. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $470,813,279 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $121,507,441 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-17-C-5145 for the Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) 1000 ship class integrated logistics support and engineering services. The DDG 1000 ship class is a multi-mission surface combatant designed to fulfill volume firepower and precision strike requirements. DDG 1000 combat systems provide offensive, distributed and precision firepower and long ranges in support of forces ashore while incorporating signature reduction, active and passive self-defense system and enhanced survivability features. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (40%); Tewksbury, Massachusetts (27%); San Diego, California (16%); Bath, Maine (6%); Ft. Wayne, Indiana (5%); Los Angeles, California (3%); Marlboro, Massachusetts (2%); and Nashua, New Hampshire (1%), and is expected to be completed by January 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $15,660,190; fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $2,650,000; and fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $621,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds in the amount of $16,281,190 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a $40,029,200 modification (P00036) to a previously-awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-16-C-0048). This modification procures organic capability pilot repair material, technical publications, peculiar support equipment re-design and acquisition and logistical support in support of lot 2 CH-53K aircraft. Work will be performed in Shelton, Connecticut (78%); Stratford, Connecticut (21%); and Cherry Point, North Carolina (1%), and is expected to be completed in December 2024. Fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $40,029,200 will be obligated at the time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. ARMY FN America LLC, Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded a $119,216,309 firm-fixed-price contract for the M4/M4A1 carbines. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0006). DRS Network & Imaging Systems LLC, Melbourne, Florida, was awarded a $21,470,307 firm-fixed-price contract for mission system computers, chief of section displays (CSD) and CSD chargers for the M777A2 Digital Fire Control System. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 19, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-20-D-0020). AIR FORCE L3 Harris Corp., Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $32,076,011 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00020) to contract FA8819-19-C-0002 for combat mission systems support sustainment Option Year One. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $24,978,900 are being obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES JAB Innovative Solutions LLC, Bristow, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,849,120 firm-fixed-price and time and material contract for Defense Innovative Unit (DIU) scientific and technical consulting support services. DIU requires program management consulting services, with experience in scientific and technical industries, to assist with meeting the DIU core mission as the interface node between the Department of Defense (DoD), entrepreneurs, start-up firms, and commercial technology companies in Silicon Valley, California; Boston, Massachusetts; and Arlington, Virginia, to increase DoD access to leading edge commercial technologies and technical talent. Work performance will take place in Arlington, Virginia; Boston, Massachusetts; and Silicon Valley, California. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,849,120 are being awarded. The expected completion date is Sept. 18, 2021. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-18-F-0434). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2088143/source/GovDelivery/

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