Russia’s Newest Fighter the MiG-35 Integrates Basic AI as Pilot Assistant

Entering service in June 2019, the MiG-35 is the first new class of fighter Russian fighter since the Soviet era not to be derived from the Su-27 Flanker heavyweight design. The aircraft integrates a number of revolutionary new technologies, including three dimensional thrust vectoring engines, Russia’s first fighter-mounted AESA radar, R-37M hypersonic air to air missiles and a range of new cruise missile types. According to Dmitry Selivanov, a test pilot at the MiG aircraft corporation, the MiG-35 has also integrated an artificial intelligence (AI) pilot assistant, stating: "We call her Rita, the voice communicant. Her voice remains pleasant and calm even if a fire hits the engine. She does not talk all the time; she just makes recommendations if the plane approaches some restrictions. Hints are also provided during combat usage.” This represents a very basic application of a concept which a number of defence manufacturers are investing in, with both the U.S. and China seeking to integrate far more sophisticated artificial intelligence onto their aircraft capable of actively supporting combat operations. Russia’s upcoming Su-57 is expected to eventually integrate similar systems, which have the potential to make pilots far more efficient and render the fielding of aircraft with twin pilots redundant.

Regarding the aircraft itself, Selivanov noted: "Everything in the new fighter is aimed at helping the pilot. In a critical situation, it can even suggest what should be done. Apart from that, an expert system is being developed, which will direct the pilot in difficult situations.” Regarding testing, he stated: “The most difficult emergency situations are being tested on the ground, through simulators. This involves the cut-off of one engine or failure of a key system. Of course, no one would test such emergencies during flights. The most important thing is that the test pilot is always ready for any developments. To ensure this, he should be well versed in the technical equipment. Nothing serious has happened to MiG-35 yet. There were only some routine issues, which were later adjusted.”

The MiG-35 ‘4++ generation’ platform is the latest fighter class to join the Russian inventory, and is a medium weight aircraft designed with a much lower operational costs and lower maintenance requirements than heavier jets such as the Su-30 and Su-35. While the Russian Air Force primarily relies on heavyweight aircraft to form the bulk of its fleet, the MiG-35 is set to replace the MiG-29 in a frontline role in the few Russian units which do field medium weight aircraft. The numbers produced for export for potential clients such as India, Iran and Belarus are expected to exceed those produced for the Russian Air Force itself. The MiG-35's operational cost is reportedly 80% lower than that of the MiG-29, meaning replacing older medium jets with the new design could in the long term pay for itself. Particularly in terms of flight performance, the fighter compares favourably with other designs from the medium and light weight ranges such as the Chinese J-10C, French Rafale and American F-35A.