AI takes the skies: Groundbreaking F‑16 vs. VISTA X‑62A air combat test

The test consisted of a series of simulated, manoeuvring air battles at a short range between a human-piloted F-16 and a special test version of the F-16 named VISTA X-62A, controlled by artificial intelligence.

In the cockpit of this aircraft sat a person who could take control in case of an unforeseen situation, but their intervention was not necessary.

Simulated fights involving AI in a virtual computer environment are nothing new. However, the complexity of processes occurring in real air combat is so great that the virtual environment proved insufficient, and further tests using real aeroplanes became necessary.

According to information provided by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), initially AI only performed defensive maneuvers, but over time it was also allowed to attack the "opponent's" aircraft.

As reported by DARPA, during the battles the minimum distance between the machines was around 600 metres, and the speed at which they approached each other reached nearly 2,000 km/h. The result of the simulated air battles was not disclosed.

The VISTA X-62A (Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft) used during the tests is a modified F-16, which has served the American Air Force since 1992 for testing and developing aerial artificial intelligence.

The aircraft was built based on an Israeli variant of the F-16 and received modified aerodynamic surfaces and the capability of thrust vectoring through nozzle deflections. As a result, the machine has greater manoeuvrability capabilities than regular F-16s. The aircraft also received modified, reinforced landing gear.

The machine, built through a joint effort of DARPA and Skunk Works, also has completely modified software and the onboard computer EMC2 (Enterprise Mission Computer version 2), colloquially known as Einstein Box.