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World’s first commercial F-16 ADAIR operator integrates groundbreaking AI-driven wingman capability, setting a new benchmark in adversary air training.
Top Aces Corp., globally renowned as the sole commercial operator of F-16 aircraft for advanced adversary air (ADAIR) training, announces a pioneering leap forward with its revolutionary “constructive wingman.” Developed in collaboration with technology innovators CTSi and EpiSci, this cutting-edge integration harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate realistic maneuvers of sophisticated adversary aircraft within live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training environments.
The constructive wingman technology replicates the flight characteristics, tactics, and maneuvers of advanced adversaries, significantly enhancing live-virtual-constructive scenarios. Integrated into Top Aces’ fleet of F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighters (AAF) through the versatile Advanced Aggressor Mission System (AAMS) by CTSi, the AI-driven wingman solution leverages EpiSci’s cutting-edge AI engine to deliver realistic and dynamic air-combat encounters.
The sophisticated AAMS system, utilizing an intuitive Hands-On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) interface, allows pilots seamless interaction with virtual adversaries, significantly increasing the complexity and realism of training engagements. Each constructive wingman operates as an additional adversary in simulations, displaying authentic advanced adversary behaviors and maneuvers, thereby multiplying training effectiveness while significantly reducing operational costs.
Russ Quinn, President of Top Aces Corp. and former USAF Aggressor pilot, highlights the strategic importance of this advancement:
“The introduction of a constructive wingman is a transformative step for air combat training, dramatically enhancing realism, complexity, and intensity. This AI-enabled capability ensures our customers experience unmatched training effectiveness, preparing pilots for real-world combat scenarios better than ever before.”
Dan Javorsek, President of EpiSci and a seasoned pilot of multiple fighter generations and classified prototypes, underscores the role AI technology plays in modern combat training:
“Having flown nearly every advanced fighter platform, I recognize both the complexities and opportunities artificial intelligence brings to air combat. This constructive wingman marks a significant shift in adversary training, defining how air combat readiness will be achieved in the future.”
Following the success of this initial deployment, Top Aces intends to expand its constructive wingman capabilities, introducing even more sophisticated unmanned collaborative platforms to ADAIR training programs. These innovations are poised to lay the foundation for a future generation of AI-integrated training environments, maintaining Top Aces’ leadership position at the forefront of air combat readiness solutions worldwide.
Edited: Katerina Urbanova
Photo Credit: Top Aces