AI Drone Launches 1st Missile in Mojave Test as Pentagon Seeks $54.6 Billion for Autonomy
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 20
AI Drone Launches 1st Missile in Mojave Test as Pentagon Seeks $54.6 Billion for Autonomy
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 20
Summary
An AI-powered drone fired a missile over the Mojave Desert this month in a test that marks a new step toward autonomous aerial combat.
The aircraft, built for the Air Force by Anduril and General Atomics, flies via onboard software rather than a pilot or remote operator, with humans mainly setting missions and authorizing weapon release.
Anduril conducted its first missile firing two weeks ago, while General Atomics said its own armed test is close; both companies' drones first flew late last year.
The test fits a broader Pentagon push to make the U.S. military an "A.I. first" force, with the Defense Department seeking $54.6 billion next year for its autonomous warfare group.