The F-16 Flies With AI | Stars and Stripes

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.

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. … Read more https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/22/the-f-16-flies-with-ai-stars-and-stripes/ The 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 .