Future Aggressor Work Expected to Leverage Autonomous, Realistic AI Integration

Top Aces, the commercial operator of civilian-owned F-16 aggressors, announced their investment in EpiSci, a tactical AI developer.

The company said the investment "expands on Top Aces’ commitment of providing world-class training to the next generation of combat leaders," getting out in front of the AI trend and "positioning the company at the forefront of development and training in the future ‘human-machine’ collaborative battlefield."

The company's work in AI has already begun, with their proprietary ‘Advanced Aggressor Mission System’ (AAMS) already underway. Their roadmap sees the AAMS as an integral part of providing crewed-uncrewed teaming in support of next-gen fighter pilot training.

Currently, Top Aces provides ADAIR training to USAF F-35 and F-22 pilots at Eglin and Luke AFB with their fleet of modern F-16s. In the future, AI functions will be integrated into that fleet for unmatched fidelity to near-peer adversaries while offering greater economic efficiencies than providing ADAIR services in-house.

“This is a very significant strategic investment for us,” says Russ Quinn, President, Top Aces Corp. “AI is impacting numerous industries and defense is no exception. By partnering with EpiSci, a leading innovator whose Tactical AI products have demonstrated real-world deployment on a variety of fighter platforms, we are taking a leadership position that directly contributes to the defense of our nation.”

“We are thrilled to work with Top Aces,” said Bo Ryu, Founder and President, EpiSci. “Teaming with a leading ADAIR training provider opens new avenues for our Tactical AI-enabled pilot assistance and autonomy development suite. By working together, we will accelerate the advent of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft era where the pilot’s trust in AI is absolutely critical.”

FMI: www.topaces.com