During the recent “DASH-3” tests, new AI programs consistently outperformed humans at a series of combat decision-making tasks—and did not suffer from “hallucinations” of false data.

Artificial intelligence can be a valid option for military commanders when planning combat missions, a recent US Air Force test showed.  

AI Outperformed Humans in Simulated Combat Scenarios  

During the Decision Advantage Sprint for Human-Machine Teaming (DASH-3) test series, the US military paired with partners from Canada and the United Kingdom to test the potential of AI in enhancing decision-making and improving operational efficiency.  

As part of the test, the Air Force pitted military personnel from the US, Canada, and the UK against AI tools from several different companies. Each team had to solve hypothetical combat management problems, including airstrike planning, intelligence gathering, and ground support.  

“AI systems demonstrated the ability to generate multi-domain COAs [courses of action] considering risk, fuel, time constraints, force packaging, and geospatial routing in under one minute,” Air Force Colonel John Ohlund, the director of the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team (ABMS CFT), said in a service release about the test. 

The test takers found that the AI-generated recommendations were 90 percent faster than those of humans. Moreover, the best AI software provided solutions with 97 percent viability and tactical validity.  

The performance of the AI tools shines more when compared to that of the humans involved in the test. On average, the human participants took around 19 minutes to generate courses of action. Moreover, only 48 percent of the solutions presented were deemed viable and tactically valid. And in the event of sustained combat operations where fatigue comes into play, human performance could be even slower and less viable and tactically valid.  

“This dramatic reduction in time and improvement in the quality of solutions underscores AI’s potential to significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of the decision-making process, while still allowing humans to make the final decisions on the battlefield,” Ohlund added. 

Can the Military Trust AI Systems?

A major issue with artificial intelligence tools is trust. Human participants in the exercise acknowledged the value that AI can bring in combat scenarios through enhanced decision-making and better planning.  

“We understand that the next conflict cannot be won alone without the help of machine teammates and supported by our allies,” Royal Canadian Air Force Captain Dennis Williams, the Canadian participant in DASH 3, stated. 

Most importantly for the test takers, the AI models did not display any “hallucinations”—a common occurrence with artificial intelligence technology across industries. 

AI hallucinations occur when an artificial intelligence tool produces incorrect or irrelevant outputs. This usually happens when large language models are involved. The tools used in DASH 3 were specifically designed to minimize this phenomenon.  

The move toward using artificial intelligence in military operations is not new. For more than a  decade, the US military has been utilizing AI for a wide range of functions, including planning, intelligence analysis, targeting, weapon and platform maintenance, and even kinetic functions. Most recently, the Army established an AI career path for officers.  

Incorporating AI into the military decision-making process will not be easy, as the technology will need to constantly improve and win the trust of commanders who are putting the lives of their troops on the line.  

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou  

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.   

Image: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff.

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