{"slug": "the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes", "title": "The F-16 Flies With AI | Stars and Stripes", "summary": "The Air Force's VENOM program has flown an F-16 with AI at the controls, with six modified F-16s at Eglin Air Force Base now flying with autonomy software layered atop unchanged core avionics, according to Stars and Stripes reporter Jennifer Svan. A human pilot still commands takeoff and retains override authority, keeping certification timelines short while testing expands.", "body_md": "The Air Force’s VENOM program put an F-16 in the air with AI at the controls, reports Jennifer Svan of Stars and Stripes. In fact, six modified F-16s at Eglin Air Force Base now fly with autonomy software layered atop unchanged core avionics. A human pilot still commands takeoff and retains override authority. That keeps certification timelines short while testing expands. …\n\n[Read more](https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/22/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes/)\n\nThe post [The F-16 Flies With AI | Stars and Stripes](https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/22/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes/) appeared first on [Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University](https://smallwarsjournal.com).", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes", "canonical_source": "https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/22/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes/", "published_at": "2026-07-22 02:36:27+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-22 02:39:49.267796+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "autonomous-vehicles", "ai-safety", "ai-policy"], "entities": ["U.S. Air Force", "VENOM program", "F-16", "Eglin Air Force Base", "Stars and Stripes", "Jennifer Svan"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes.jsonld"}}