Credit: Air Force Photo by Richard Gonzales/Cover Images U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flies in the X-62A VISTA, an experimental aircraft piloted by artificial intelligence, on May 2, 2024. The purpose of the flight was to give Kendall first-hand experience with the aircraft's unique capabilities, including the integration of machine learning and specialized software to test autonomous flight and other advanced technologies. During the flight, Director Kendall witnessed the X-62A execute a series of tactical maneuvers and respond to simulated threats in real time while live agents monitored the aircraft's performance. Notably, neither Kendall nor the safety pilot intervened with the controls throughout the flight, demonstrating the X-62A's autonomous capabilities. His X-62A program, managed by the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School's Research Division, focuses on improving the fighter's multi-domain capabilities through innovative research and rapid technology testing. Over the past four years, the team has worked tirelessly to enhance the aircraft, with a comprehensive upgrade completed in 2022. Secretary Kendall emphasized the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the aviation revolution, saying, “AI is actually doing the most.” Combine the capable technologies you have and use them to solve problems that previously had to be solved by human decision-making. ”Originally, his X-16A VISTA, derived from the NF-62VISTA, served as a platform for simulating flight characteristics. However, recent upgrades have expanded its capabilities, allowing him to integrate and test his AI theories in real-time scenarios. Notably, the Air Force achieved a significant milestone last year when an AI agent successfully piloted an X-62A on 12 flights in December 2022. Two AI agents participated in the test campaign: AFRL's Autonomous Air Combat Operations and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Air Combat Operations. Evolution where each plays a different role.
