Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) announced today that it demonstrated the use of an in-flight artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm in support of the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command's 9th Reconnaissance Wing U-2 Federal Laboratory.

This flight is the first time AI has teamed with a pilot to successfully complete a complex mission.

'The threats facing our national security are increasingly sophisticated and it will be critical to move new innovations from the lab to the real world to combat them,' said Dick Johnson, senior vice president at Booz Allen and leader in the firm's national security business. 'This U-2 flight is an important step, demonstrating the ability of AI to work in coordination with highly skilled operators to propel complex missions forward.'

The Booz Allen team delivered on several key milestones, moving AI from the lab to the skies in fewer than 40 days and accelerating the process by:

Modifying an open source reinforcement learning algorithm;

Developing two sensor-sharing and control games for the algorithm to interact with and learn from, and training it to execute in-flight tasks; Developing a web-based user interface available to pilots in flight; Arranging for program office approvals and, Successfully flying the AI capability on the U-2 aircraft.

'Together, our Air Force and Booz Allen U-2 Federal Lab teams successfully operationalized artificial intelligence, enabling the AI to emulate control of sensor systems on a U-2 Dragon Lady in a training flight, marking one of the first known uses of AI on board a U.S. military aircraft,' said Booz Allen's Dr. Jesse I. Angle, a senior lead technologist with Booz Allen.

The Federal Lab's 'edge processing' containerized microservices solutions improve system performance and allow for quick, dynamic prototype solutions inside normal acquisition timelines. Booz Allen used the cutting-edge industry practices to deploy the AI capability and speed the software delivery process through automation of management and execution of containerized applications. This approach can help aircraft crews adapt to sudden needs by leveraging DevSecOps, a security-focused software development pipeline approach.

Contact:

Tel: 703-377-4422

About Booz Allen

For more than 100 years, business, government, and military leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton to solve their most complex problems. As a consulting firm with experts in analytics, digital, engineering and cyber, we help organizations transform. We are a key partner on some of the most innovative programs for governments worldwide and trusted by the most sensitive agencies. We work shoulder to shoulder with clients, using a mission-first approach to choose the right strategy and technology to help them realize their vision. With global headquarters in McLean, Virginia, our firm employs about 27,200 people globally, and had revenue of $7.5 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, 2020.

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