An experimental fighter jet, the X-62A VISTA, engaged in practice aerial combat against an F-16 for the first time, using artificial intelligence. The successful effort could help the Air Force refine plans for autonomous drone wingmen known as collaborative combat aircraft, based at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program has been refining how the military can use AI for air warfare for the past four years. The program is aimed at building trust in autonomous technology to perform safely and reliably in combat, particularly focusing on dogfighting, one of the most dangerous and unpredictable forms of flight.
Actual flight tests with AI agents flying VISTA began in December 2022 and continued through September 2023. During two weeks of tests, VISTA flew against an F-16 in various scenarios, showcasing offensive and defensive maneuvers while flying at high speeds and within close proximity to each other.
While AI agents controlled VISTA during the tests, two pilots monitored the systems and performance, signaling the trust in AI technology in safety-critical air combat environments. The test sought to demonstrate the ability to test AI agents safely in dogfighting scenarios, with plans to refine the technology and conduct more VISTA-versus-F-16 matches in the future.
The lessons learned from the ACE program could apply beyond dogfighting, allowing for the creation of uncrewed CCAs that autonomously fly alongside crewed fighters for missions such as airstrikes and reconnaissance. Ultimately, the goal is to build trust in responsible AI, with the potential for a future fighter fleet without pilots in the cockpit, though future decisions in this area rest with Air Force leadership.
