# The F-16 Flies With AI | Stars and Stripes

> Source: <https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/22/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes/>
> Published: 2026-07-22 02:36:27+00:00

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. …

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