Lockheed Martin is advancing the US Air Force toward autonomous air combat by using a modified F-16 fighter jet to train artificial intelligence to fly, maneuver, and eventually engage in combat independently. The effort centers on the X-62A VISTA, a heavily upgraded F-16D operated at Edwards Air Force Base and now described by the Air Force as an “AI pathfinder.”
Originally designed as a variable in-flight simulator, the aircraft was transformed in 2021 by Lockheed Martin and Calspan into a flying test platform for artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Advanced autonomy software enables onboard systems to control flight surfaces, respond to changing conditions, and execute complex maneuvers, while a safety pilot remains onboard. Although the jet carries no weapons, it retains full fighter performance, including the ability to reach near-Mach 2 speeds.
In 2022, artificial intelligence controlled the aircraft for extended periods, marking the first time AI actively flew a tactical fighter jet. The following year, the X-62A participated in simulated dogfight scenarios against a human-piloted aircraft as part of DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution program, further demonstrating its autonomous combat potential.
Future plans include equipping the jet with Raytheon’s PhantomStrike radar, allowing AI to handle sensor management, targeting, and tactical decision-making. Military officials say continued testing is steadily moving the Air Force toward a future in which fighter aircraft can learn, adapt, and operate with minimal human involvement.
