Lockheed Martin claimed it is the 'first time a tactical AI model has been used in flight to generate an independent Combat ID.'
Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has announced it has flight-tested a new artificial intelligence feature on its F-35 Lightning fighter. The AI system identifies unknown contacts, providing the fighter pilot with rapid identification, Lockheed revealed in a statement.
According to the company, the new system, called Project Overwatch, will improve situational awareness and enhance pilot decision-making. It will also enhance the F-35’s software capabilities, bringing them in line with those of next-generation warfighters.Project Overwatch: The F-35’s new AI systemThe F-35 is a stealth fighter capable of engaging adversaries at a distance, even if they are too far away for the pilot to see with the naked eye. As such, F-35 pilots rely heavily on advanced software to identify and engage their targets.The new AI system is designed to help pilots rapidly understand threats in their combat zone. This allows them to make decisions faster, as operators simply don’t have the time to synthesize data while in combat.The defense firm developed the Project Overwatch system using its own Internal Research And Development funding, rather than as part of a specific Air Force contract, according to a Breaking Defense report.The AI system test flight took place at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. According to Lockheed’s statement, “the successful demonstration … marks the first time a tactical AI model has been used in flight to generate an independent Combat ID on the pilot’s display.”During the test, “a Lockheed Martin-built and trained AI/machine learning model resolved ID ambiguities among emitters, improving situational awareness and reducing pilot decision-making latency,” the company continued. In this context, emitters refer to radio-frequency emissions from communications systems.6th gen technology on a 5th gen platformThe AI identification algorithm ran on the F-35’s onboard computers, Lockheed confirmed. At the same time, Lockheed engineers “used an automated tool to label new emitters, retrain the AI model to learn the new emitter class within minutes, and reload the updated model for the next flight, all in the same mission planning cycle.”As Lockheed Martin pointed out, its new AI system builds on its previous work focused on innovating to meet the F-35 warfighter’s real-time needs. This is especially important in an evolving combat environment with advanced drone and missile threats.The company also noted that the new system is a significant upgrade over its existing AI capabilities. “This is a demonstration of 6th Gen technology brought to a 5th Gen platform,” Lockheed Martin VP for F-35 combat systems, Jake Wertz, explained in the statement. The next-generation F-47 is being built by Lockheed rival Boeing. However, according to Wertz, Lockheed’s 21st-century strategy is to advance all of its existing products by integrating next-generation performance via continual software modernization.
AI F-35 F-35 Lightning II Identification Lockheed Martin
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Martin Scorsese's What Happens At Night: Leonardo DiCaprio's Shutter Island Followup?Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns.
Read more »
Ukraine's combat amputees cling to hope as a weapon of warAlong with a growing number of war-wounded amputees, Mykhailo Varvarych and Iryna Botvynska are navigating an altered destiny after Varvarych lost both his legs during the Russian invasion.
Read more »
Martin Roemers' Photographic Journey: Vehicles as Mirrors of Identity and SocietyDutch photographer Martin Roemers' project explores how diverse vehicles, from cars with rooftop gardens to animal-drawn transport, reflect personal identities, global inequalities, and evolving mobility in the 21st century. His book, compiled from photographs taken across four continents over five years, delves into the philosophical questions surrounding transportation and its cultural significance, featuring interviews and insights into the lives and perspectives of vehicle owners.
Read more »
Mar-a-Lago Suspect Austin Tucker Martin Was Angry Over Epstein Files—ReportMartin was shot dead by Secret Service agents after entering the secured perimeter of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
Read more »
AI-powered claw drone retrieves downed hostile UAVs for intel in combat zonesThe new Project RED drone can retrieve a friendly drone for repairs or capture an enemy drone for intel exploitation.
Read more »
Is George R.R. Martin Planning Surprise Drop of ‘Winds of Winter’?George R.R. Martin has delayed “The Winds of Winter“ for years, but there's renewed hope that the book could final be released.
Read more »