Air Force Secretary takes AI‑powered F‑16 to the skies in groundbreaking flight
Frank Kendall, the Secretary of the USA Air Force, embarked on an hour-long flight in an F-16 fighter jet governed by artificial intelligence. Travelling at over 900 km/h (approximately 560 mph), the jet soared above Edwards Base, engaging in a simulated confrontation with a human-piloted F-16. The Americans aim to assemble 1,000 autonomous units to counteract potential adversaries.
The US Air Force is developing a fleet of over 1,000 autonomously controlled machines designed for aerial combat support in future conflicts. The exact composition of this fleet, whether it will include drones, AI-directed combat aircraft, or other platforms, remains uncertain. Yet, the trial involving the autonomous F-16 fighter (also referred to as X-62A or VISTA) marks a significant step towards validating the capabilities of AI-controlled aircraft.
F-16 managed by artificial intelligence
Frank Kendall's venture on the autonomous fighter lasted one hour. In that time, the aircraft competed against a F-16 controlled by a human, executed various manoeuvres, and engaged in combat positioning, as Sky News reported. At a certain juncture, the planes were just about 300 metres apart. After dismounting from the cockpit, Kendall expressed, "Not possessing it [the autonomous fighter] is a threat to security. At this point, we must have it."
Autonomous drones are undergoing trials within the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative. The goal is to bring 1,000 such machines into service, with the first expected operational by 2028. Pilots participating in the project have observed that AI's rapid learning capacities mean some aircraft are already besting real pilots in combat simulations. The EurAsian Times has highlighted that X-62A operators believe this aircraft to be unique worldwide. It is equipped with artificial intelligence that initially learns from millions of data points in a simulator before validating its learning through actual flights.
The US Air Force is betting on autonomous machines, convinced of their ability to engage the enemy and breach their air defences without risking pilot lives. This approach is also seen as more cost-effective, an important consideration particularly as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme has spiralled beyond budget and faced delays.
