Air Force Secretary Gets in Cockpit of Self-Flying Fighter Plane

The X-62A VISTA, a modified F-16 testbed aircraft, is helping the Air Force explore artificial intelligence applications in combat aircraft.

Jack Daleo

Monday, May 06, 2024 at 03:36 PM ET

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U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flies in the X-62A VISTA autonomous fighter plane above Edwards Air Force Base in California on May 2. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Richard Gonzales]

Key Takeaways:

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew in the X-62A VISTA, an AI-controlled F-16 testbed, which autonomously performed complex aerial dogfighting maneuvers, marking a significant step in military AI development.
This advancement is part of the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, aiming to integrate machine learning AI into combat aviation to supplement or replace human pilots, with thousands of uncrewed AI aircraft potentially operational by 2028.
While the AI has demonstrated the ability to defeat human pilots in simulated combat, concerns persist regarding the ethical implications, potential for civilian casualties, and accountability for decisions made by autonomous weapons systems.
The U.S. views the development of this AI technology as a critical "race" against rival nations like China, who are also pursuing similar AI-controlled fighter jet capabilities.

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U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is putting his money where his mouth is.

Last week, Kendall got in the cockpit of a self-flying fighter plane during a historic flight at Edwards Air Force Base (KEDW) in California. The aircraft—called the X-62A Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft, or VISTA for short—is a modified F-16 testbed and represents the Air Force’s first foray into aircraft flown entirely by machine learning AI models.