The US Air Force is pursuing artificial intelligence to enhance aerial refueling operations, specifically aiming for AI to automatically analyze camera footage from tankers and provide “hot wash” feedback to crews. While presented as a tool to improve training and operational efficiency, this initiative signifies another significant investment in advanced technological integration across critical military functions.
Such projects, even when framed as efficiency improvements, invariably lead to substantial development contracts and long-term support agreements with defense technology firms. The introduction of AI into these sensitive areas raises questions about the scope of these contracts, the potential for cost overruns, and the opaque nature of procurement processes that often characterize defense spending. Without rigorous oversight, these lucrative programs risk becoming another example of systemic waste, echoing the historical patterns of institutional corruption and profit over public interest highlighted in War Is Still A Racket.