F-16 modified with AI pilot capable of autonomous dogfighting, defeating human pilots in simulated air combat. First AI-controlled fighter to defeat human in live aerial combat.
The X-62A VISTA's AI pilot demonstrated in September 2023 tests that machine learning algorithms could execute defensive and offensive maneuvers in a 6-degrees-of-freedom flight envelope faster and with greater precision than human pilots, winning five consecutive within-visual-range engagements. The program has expanded the boundaries of what AI can achieve in real-world dynamic physical environments, moving autonomous aerial combat from simulation into verified live flight performance. USAF Secretary Frank Kendall personally flew in the AI-controlled X-62A in May 2024, an unprecedented public demonstration of institutional confidence in autonomous piloting capability.
AI beat human pilot in 5-0 dogfight test September 2023; USAF Secretary flights in AI-controlled aircraft
Lockheed Martin (LMT) provides the X-62A airframe modification. EpiSci is a private defense AI company. NVIDIA (NVDA) and other AI hardware providers benefit from the computational demands of training autonomous pilot AI.