In a significant development for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the artificial intelligence (AI) models onboard the European fighter will initially be “frozen,” reports Defense News. This means they will not undergo training directly during combat missions, as confirmed by Airbus’ Thomas Grohs, head of the Future capabilities department and chief engineer of the FCAS project.
Grohs outlined that AI models responsible for critical decisions, such as engaging enemy targets, will be developed and trained externally from the aircraft. This approach ensures rigorous testing and validation before deployment onboard the promising combat aircraft. However, future plans include integrating AI training directly into the aerial platform, which encompasses not only the lead fighter but also autonomous drones.
“I don’t see much difference between the decisions that a robot or a human makes,” Grohs commented, underscoring the integration of AI into mission-critical operations. This marks a pivotal step towards enhancing combat capabilities while ensuring robust AI performance within the FCAS framework.
