DARPA, U.S. Air Force fly AI-controlled F-16
5 hours ago
- A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet modified with an AI agent is undergoing in-air autonomous flight testing at Eglin Air Force Base.
- The modification is part of the Viper Experimentation and Next-generation Operations Model (VENOM) program, a joint effort between the U.S. Air Force and DARPA under the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program.
- The VENOM Autonomy Kit (VAK) allows pilots to toggle between human and AI control, enabling safe human-on-the-loop experimentation.
- These flights demonstrate the ability to transform standard operational aircraft into autonomous-capable platforms, building on previous ACE flights with the X-62A VISTA.
- VENOM aircraft will serve as the cornerstone for DARPA's Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program, testing multiple AI agents in live-flight scenarios for beyond-visual-range combat.
- The AIR program aims to address trust and performance questions in combat AI, ultimately enabling human pilots to command teams of autonomous uncrewed aircraft.
- Key officials emphasize the milestone's importance for rapid innovation and developing dominant AI for aerial combat.