US fighter pilots tested Raft AI’s “air battle manager” system for the first time, accelerating decision-making in combat but raising concerns about reduced human oversight.
US fighter pilots have, for the first time, taken directions from an artificial intelligence system during a test that could reshape air combat tactics, Fox News reported.
Traditionally, pilots rely on ground support teams who track radar and provide flight instructions. But in a joint Air Force and Navy trial earlier this month, pilots consulted with Raft AI’s “air battle manager” to verify flight paths and receive faster alerts on nearby enemy aircraft.
The development comes as defense technology companies push boundaries with autonomous systems. Firms like Anduril and General Atomics have already built unmanned fighter drones designed to fly alongside human-piloted jets. Analysts say such advances accelerate combat decision-making while reducing reliance on manpower.
Raft AI CEO Shubhi Mishra said the technology reduces decision time dramatically. “Decisions that once took minutes only take seconds with the new technology,” she told Fox. Experts, however, caution that while the system increases efficiency, it risks removing human judgment from critical battlefield decisions.