A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet, modified under the Viper Experimentation and Next-generation Operations Model (VENOM) program, has undergone in-air testing controlled by an artificial intelligence (AI) agent. This initiative, a joint effort between the U.S. Air Force and DARPA, aims to accelerate the development and deployment of combat AI for the joint force.

The VENOM F-16s are equipped with the VENOM Autonomy Kit (VAK), which allows a pilot to switch between human and AI control. This system was developed under the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program and builds upon previous successful flights with the X-62A VISTA. The modification enables AI control without altering the jet's core software, creating an efficient pipeline for developing dominant AI for aerial combat.

These flights are crucial for DARPA's upcoming Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program, which will use the VENOM fleet to test multiple AI agents in live-flight scenarios. The goal is to enable human pilots to command teams of autonomous aircraft, paving the way for future capabilities like Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Brig. Gen. James “Fangs” Valpiani highlighted the importance of these tests in addressing the complexities of modern warfare and ensuring the trustworthiness of AI in combat.