US Air Force AI‑piloted F‑16 achieves 27 live intercepts in test

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the US Air Force Test Pilot School and DARPA conducted an eight‑sortie campaign at Edwards Air Force Base in which an AI agent aboard the modified F‑16 X‑62 VISTA performed 27 live intercepts against a T‑38 target. The aircraft used a Legion pod with an IRST21 sensor to feed real‑time infrared data to the onboard AI, which closed the sensor‑to‑action loop and maneuvered the jet into tactical positions. The test demonstrated the capability to integrate combat systems, sensors and autonomous agents on an operational platform.

A related effort, reported by French media, confirmed the successful flight of a fully AI‑piloted F‑16 under DARPA’s VENOM program. The aircraft operated in a “human‑on‑the‑loop” configuration, allowing a supervisor to intervene if needed, and is intended to validate coordination of multiple autonomous fighters for future combat missions.