The aircraft is one of several F-16s converted into autonomous-capable test platforms under VENOM. The joint Air Force-DARPA effort was initiated through DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution, or ACE, program.
The latest tests build on earlier ACE flights using the X-62A VISTA experimental aircraft. Those trials demonstrated that an AI agent could autonomously fly a fighter during an air-to-air dogfight.
VENOM takes that work a step further by adapting standard F-16 aircraft for AI-controlled flight. DARPA said the approach creates infrastructure for faster and more scalable development of combat AI across the joint force.
“These groundbreaking flight tests of VENOM-modified F-16s advance the infrastructure needed to develop trusted, autonomous air combat capabilities,” said Brig. Gen. James “Fangs” Valpiani, Ph.D., DARPA program manager. “The Air Force and DARPA team has automated flight controls and sensors on a standard F-16 without changing the jet’s core software.”
“This enables an efficient pipeline for developing dominant AI for aerial combat, allowing us to rapidly innovate for the warfighter.” The modifications are centered on the VENOM Autonomy Kit, or VAK.
The kit was designed and integrated by multiple performers under the ACE program. It interfaces with the F-16’s flight controls and mission systems while leaving the aircraft’s core software unchanged.
The system allows a pilot to switch between traditional human control and AI control with the flip of a switch. DARPA said this provides a safe and reliable environment for human-on-the-loop experimentation.
The VENOM fleet will now become a core test platform for DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements, or AIR, program. AIR will use the aircraft to evaluate multiple AI agents in live-flight scenarios.
The program is focused on developing AI for more complex air combat, including beyond-visual-range and multi-aircraft operations. The work is also intended to support future missions involving human pilots commanding and coordinating teams of autonomous, uncrewed aircraft.
“The emerging threat environment, especially as it relates to aerial combat, is growing increasingly complex,” Valpiani said. “AI has tremendous potential to help humans manage this complexity in beyond-visual-range combat, but many hard questions remain concerning the performance and trustworthiness of combat AI in the extreme fog and friction of modern warfare.”
“The AIR program aims to apply cutting-edge combat agents to operationally relevant scenarios to address these questions and field war-deterring, war-winning capabilities to our warfighters.” DARPA said capabilities developed under AIR could support future joint-force operations, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs.
Valpiani will conclude his tenure as a DARPA program manager later this month. Lt. Col. Patrick “Dice” Highland, Ph.D., has recently joined DARPA and will take over as the incoming AIR program manager.
“I’m incredibly proud of the AIR program’s role in advancing our nation’s combat autonomy, demonstrated by this VENOM milestone,” Highland said. “We now have the opportunity to create dominant autonomy for beyond-visual-range, multi-ship combat. These flights give us an early glimpse of how AI agents may begin actively transforming air warfare.”
Terry Wilson, Ph.D., director of AI Development and Transition for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Autonomy Capability Team, remains deputy program manager for VENOM and AIR. DARPA said the role provides continuity, technical and operational leadership, and coordination across joint organizations.
“I share Gen. Valpiani’s deep appreciation for the incredible dedication of our DARPA and industry teammates, joint engineers, the System Program Office, Eglin’s test and maintenance crews, and the entire AIR and VENOM ecosystem which has made this milestone possible,” Wilson said. “I look forward to unleashing the VENOM platform and moving these capabilities out of simulation and into the sky.”
DARPA plans to use AIR to improve the speed and predictability of AI model development. Testing will also expand toward increasingly complex multi-ship flight operations using AI-driven autonomy.
