{"id":70259,"date":"2025-07-22T13:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T13:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2025\/07\/22\/air-force-experiments-with-using-ai-to-seek-combat-targets\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:22:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:22:32","slug":"air-force-experiments-with-using-ai-to-seek-combat-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/07\/22\/air-force-experiments-with-using-ai-to-seek-combat-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force experiments with using AI to seek combat targets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Air Force recently conducted an exercise in which AI was used to recommend targets in a high-pressure combat scenario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Called \u201cExperiment 3,\u201d the four-day exercise took place last month and was described in a service release as the debut of \u201ca novel planning and execution methodology, one never before executed\u201d by the Air Force. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 805th Combat Training Squadron, also known as the Shadow Operations Center \u2014 Nellis battle lab, saw participants use AI software to accelerate their decision-making and targeting processes over four days in a simulated battle space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not just testing software, we\u2019re challenging assumptions, validating tactics and shaping the operational architecture the Air Force and our allies will rely on in future conflicts,\u201d Lt. Col. Shawn Finney, commander of the 805th, said in a release<\/a>. \u201cThis was a proving ground for the kill chain of tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unprecedented exercise was designed to speed up military decision-making and \u201creduce cognitive load\u201d on humans, per the release. The AI \u201coffered real-time recommendations to dynamic targeting teams.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AI software used during the exercise was developed under the Maven Smart System<\/a>. The software ingests data and produces analyses to \u201cprioritize targets,\u201d according to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\t