Aerospace Group:

Advanced / Transformational Technology

Heron Systems Wins Crown in DARPA AlphaDogfight Trials

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, August 20th, 2020

SHARE:

Heron Systems Wins Crown in DARPA AlphaDogfight Trials

Heron Systems, Inc.'s AI agent, "Falco," kills the simulated F-16 piloted by an elite pilot and graduate of the F-16 Weapons Instructor Course.

Heron Systems Inc. took first place in the third and final competition in DARPA’s AlphaDogfight trials (ADT) on Aug 20 between artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled F-16 simulators and U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps pilots. Founded in 1993, Heron is a small AI firm located near Patuxent Naval Air Station, Md. To win the final round, Heron's AI agent, "Falco," took out in five separate dogfights an F-16 simulator helmed by "Banger," an elite F-16 pilot, a graduate of the…

Unmanned Systems

Counter-Drone Needs Will Be Addressed In Next NDAA Based On Iran War Lessons, Banks Says

A Republican senator on Armed Services Committee on Thursday said that defending against Iranian drones has been challenge for U.S. warfighters and will be an area of focus in the […]

Pentagon

Pentagon ‘Working Options’ On Iran Supplemental, May Seek Funds For New Capabilities

The Pentagon is “working options” for a potential supplemental spending request to fund the operation against Iran and replenish munitions used in the strike campaign, with a senior official noting […]

Congress

Wicker Backs “Crash Program” To Supply Ukraine With Low-Cost Weapons

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Thursday proposed a rapid effort to supply Ukraine with low-cost weapons to aid that country in turning back Russia. “We […]

Congress

Dem Lawmakers Want To Codify Trump’s Push For More Defense Contractor Accountability

A group of four Congressional Democrats want to codify President Donald Trump’s push to hold defense firms accountable for prioritizing production investments over paying out stock buybacks, and are seeking […]