OPERATIONS
“ The world ’ s leading powers are racing to develop new technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing ”
ANTONY BLINKEN US SECRETARY OF STATE
Domain Command and Control ( JADC2 ). The experiments – Global Information Dominance Experiments ( GIDE ) – are organised by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office ( CDAO ) in partnership with the Joint Chiefs of Staff ( JCS ). They are the first to be held at this level and scale .
The experiment involves US military and civilian personnel from all service branches and multiple combatant commands . The aim is to identify barriers that inhibit data sharing across the Joint force , such as policy , security , connectivity , and userinterface issues .
The CDAO aims to improve access to data across the Joint force – from the strategic level to tactical warfighters – and show how this data , alongside analytics and AI , can improve Joint workflows in various missions , from globally integrated deterrence through to targeting and fires . The experiment ' s goal is to provide a rapid solution to the challenges faced by the Joint force and demonstrate how data can help achieve mission objectives more effectively .
“ We want to stress-test our current systems and processes , introduce new technologies and approaches , and learn in an experimentation environment that replicates real-world operations ,” says Col . Matthew Strohmeyer , GIDE V Mission Commander .
The CDAO will host four more iterations ( GIDE V-VIII ) of the experiment throughout 2023 , aligned with the Joint Warfighting Concept and the JADC2 Implementation Strategy . By hosting these experiments , the DoD says it sets a precedent for joint , integrated experimentation enabled by data , analytics , and AI to advance their critical capabilities .
Lockheed Martin flies into AI history books In the private sector , Lockheed Martin ' s VISTA X-62A recently made history as the first tactical aircraft flown by an artificial intelligence agent . VISTA , or Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft , was developed by Lockheed Martin ’ s legendary Skunk Works and Calspan Corporation for the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California .
VISTA is a modified F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble Il aircraft upgraded with Block 40 avionics and fitted with software that allows it to mimic the performance characteristics of other aircraft . The AI-powered VISTA platform can process vast amounts of data quickly and accurately , enabling it to optimise logistics , identify potential threats , and detect anomalies in data sets .
The recent 17-plus-hour flight by an AI agent on VISTA was made possible by a suite of advanced systems provided by Calspan and Lockheed Martin , including the VISTA Simulation System , Model Following Algorithm , and System for Autonomous Control of the Simulation . These systems enable VISTA to conduct the most advanced flight test experiments emphasising autonomy and AI .
" VISTA will allow us to parallelise the development and test of cutting-edge artificial
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