Self-driving fighter tested by the US Air Force

  • Reading Time:2Minutes

The US Air Force has reported that its X-62A VISTA, an AI-guided aircraft, completed a 17-hour flight without human intervention, marking a successful milestone in the development of autonomous fighter planes. In December 2022, twelve live tests were conducted on the VISTA, which is short for Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft, involving complex manoeuvres and beyond visual range tasks.

The VISTA passed all tests, including face-to-face manoeuvring combat, demonstrating that it can relieve the pilot of certain tasks in future operations. The X-62A was previously an F-16 and became a special test aircraft two years ago. While the system appears to be dependable, a pilot has always been present on board as a backup control.

The X-62A is known as a “flight test accelerator” because it allows the Air Force to fine-tune the AI after each task is completed, enabling them to move quickly to the next test within hours.

According to Lt Col Ryan “Hal” Hefron, the system has undergone several take-offs and landings, and has been tested in various conditions against different enemies and weapons. While there were differences compared to simulations, which is expected when transitioning from virtual to real space, the system has performed well, with no major problems encountered. The VISTA platform allows for faster learning and iteration compared to other aircraft, Hefron states.

The US Department of Defense has initiated over 600 AI projects since 2018, with a budget of more than two billion dollars allocated for these efforts.

Source: gizmondo.com

Recent article

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

The flying ambulance arrives at lightning speed

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

The electric car revolution could continue in the air

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Unmanned aerial taxis flew in a unique formation

Electric airplane News & Articles

NASA’s Innovations: Soaring into an Electrified Flight Future

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Could eVTOLs and Air Taxis Replace Public Transport ?

Additional aircraft News & Articles

The Morphobot: An Innovation in Multimodal Robotics

News & Articles Points of interest

The Dawn of AI Air Travel: Airbus and its Vision for Autonomy

Air taxi News & Articles

Volocopter’s High-Flying Ambitions for the Olympics

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

The Horizon of Aviation: Airbus’ Vision for 2035 and Beyond

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

A Shift in Aviation Licensing and Training

Drones News & Articles

Russia’s Path to Drone Supremacy

Air taxi News & Articles

Israel’s Pioneering Venture into Drone Transport

Air taxi News & Articles

More efficient air taxis in the future

Air taxi News & Articles

Testing of perhaps the most promising air taxi begins

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Navigating the Future: Autonomous Helicopters Soar High

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Embracing the Future: Seoul’s Leap into Urban Air Mobility
More articles you may be interested in...

Air taxi News & Articles

The Coming Electric Air Taxi Revolution: Competing with Train Tickets ?

The Dutch company, Electron Aviation, is making a bold promise that is set to disrupt.......... READ MORE

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

Unveiling the Whisper of Innovation: CycloTech’s Exploration into CycloRotor Noise Levels

In the fast-paced realm of aeronautical engineering, the introduction of CycloRotors has heralded a paradigm.......... READ MORE

Points of interest

Sailing the Skies in Style: Airbus’s Novel Vision for Air Travel

Navigating the dawn of a fresh chapter in aviation, Airbus recently shared its audacious plans.......... READ MORE

Drones News & Articles

Boosting Agriculture: A Drone Revolution Awaits in Budapest

The stage is set in Hungary, as it stands on the brink of an exciting.......... READ MORE

News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel

Embracing the Future with Rolls-Royce’s Revolutionary UltraFan Engine

Just when you thought the apex of innovation had been reached, Rolls-Royce challenges the notion.......... READ MORE

Air taxi News & Articles

Testing of perhaps the most promising air taxi begins

For some of us, the very idea of an air taxi evokes scenes straight out.......... READ MORE

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Navigating the Future: Autonomous Helicopters Soar High

Unmanned helicopters are no longer a concept in some futuristic Sci-Fi novel. They're here, revolutionizing.......... READ MORE

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Embracing the Future: Seoul’s Leap into Urban Air Mobility

In an audacious move to revolutionize its transport system, Seoul - the bustling South Korean.......... READ MORE