Advances in technology continue to push the limits of the impossible. The latest feat is the development of an artificial intelligence capable of piloting a fighter plane, the F-16. It is the agency in charge of research and development of the American army (DARPA) which originated it. The new combat aircraft was successfully tested in a simulator with several takeoffs and landings. The results were conclusive, according to the US administration.
Although still a project, this new American technological advance confirms the country’s leading position in the next-generation arms race. This technology could significantly reduce the loss of life during wars on the side of its holder, a longstanding concern of the United States, given past conflicts, including the Vietnam War and that of Afghanistan, where the country has lost an impressive number of soldiers at the front. The possibility of seeing fighter jets flying without a pilot in a theater of operation is still remote, but this technological advance shows that a giant step has been taken in this direction.
However, this technology also raises concerns about the impact on the employment of fighter pilots and the ability to wage war remotely, without having to face the brutal realities of combat. The United States has clearly shown its commitment to research and development of advanced military technologies, but this arms race must not obscure the ethical and humanitarian consequences associated with it.
