A crucial component to training is imitating battle. To do so, the military provides its pilots a combination of flight simulators and actual flying to sharpen their skills. The Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, widely known as “Top Gun,” inspired a blockbuster movie franchise that introduced millions to pilot training techniques.
But the military faces significant issues in training fighter pilots. Using simulators cannot replicate the feel of being in the air and maneuvering against an opponent, said Red6 board chairman and retired Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, though they are budget friendly.
The movement of these AI-based ghosts can be overlaid over what the pilot sees through their headset in real-time, providing realistic training experience — without needing access to expensive, and hard-to-find fighter jets.
Months prior, a virtual opponent, created by autonomous technologies company EpiSci, proved to be so good during early simulator-based test runs, it was able to obliterate a human Air Force pilot in a simulated dogfight.
That means training Air Force pilots will have to watch their backs — even if their opponent is being run by a computer.
