AI Takes the Wheel of a Fighter Jet for 17 Hours

Exciting news from the Defense Department! An experimental aircraft, the X-62A Vista, has been flown by artificial intelligence for 17 hours over 12 flights, marking the first time that AI has been engaged on a tactical aircraft.

During the flights in December at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the AI algorithms controlled the jet during simulated combat missions, takeoffs, and landings, with safety pilots on board at all times. Check out the video to learn more! 

The X-62A was designed by Lockheed Martin, and the research is part of a joint project between the US Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance autonomous flight technologies.

While autopilot systems are common in aircraft, engaging in aerial combat against an adversary is a whole different ballgame. The X-62A flights demonstrate the potential for AI to handle complex flight operations and decision-making. 

The Defense Department plans to continue using the X-62A to test and evaluate autonomy capabilities and uncrewed vehicle models. This is just the beginning of a new era in aviation, where AI and human pilots could work together to achieve new levels of performance and safety.

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