The Pentagon wants to increase its use of artificial intelligence, or AI, for war. So it asked it research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to automate air-to-air combat, teaching AI how to manuever an aircraft and use weapons on the modern battlefield, reported DARPA Public Affairs.

The research agency says AI-controlled fighter aircraft could respond faster in combat situations, allowing the pilot to identify other threats. The software can also fly in a fully autonomous mode without a pilot.

The Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program was developed by DARPA to address the need for autonomous combat technology in the skies.

"Being able to trust autonomy is critical as we move toward a future of warfare involving manned platforms fighting alongside unmanned systems," said Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Javorsek (Ph.D.), ACE program manager at DARPA.

The Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program was developed by DARPA to address the need for autonomous combat technology in the skies.

"Being able to trust autonomy is critical as we move toward a future of warfare involving manned platforms fighting alongside unmanned systems," said Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Javorsek (Ph.D.), ACE program manager at DARPA.

"We envision a future in which AI handles the split-second maneuvering during within-visual-range dogfights, keeping pilots safer and more effective as they orchestrate large numbers of unmanned systems into a web of overwhelming combat effects," Javorsek said.

ACE is designed to enable DARPA's "mosaic warfare" vision. Mosaic warfare transfers warfighting away from human pilots to less-expensive drones that can be quickly manufactured, fielded, and upgraded with the latest technology to address changing threats on the modern battlefield.