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, demonstrating its ability to perform advanced tactical maneuvers and simulated dogfighting against a piloted jet without human intervention.
The X-62A VISTA utilizes machine learning AI developed under DARPA's Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program, which has learned to defeat human pilots in simulated dogfights, representing a "transformational moment" for combat aviation.
The U.S. plans to deploy thousands of AI-controlled aircraft by 2028 to reduce costs and pilot risks, despite ethical concerns about autonomous weapons, viewing this development as a critical race against rival nations like China.

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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.