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 F-16 testbed controlled entirely by machine learning AI, which autonomously performed aggressive simulated dogfighting maneuvers against a human-piloted jet.
This flight signifies a major breakthrough in autonomous air combat, with the Air Force planning to deploy thousands of AI-controlled aircraft by 2028 to reduce costs and human risk in dangerous scenarios.
Despite ethical concerns regarding civilian casualties and accountability for AI-determined actions, the U.S. is prioritizing this technology's development due to a perceived "race" with rival nations like China, which are also advancing their AI combat 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.