Air Force expands autonomous flight tests with live, AI-enabled intercepts

The Air Force and Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated an artificial intelligent agent autonomously flying a fighter jet using live infrared sensor data — a critical step in ongoing developments of AI-enabled combat.

The service announced Tuesday that it conducted multiple flight tests in April at Edwards Air Force Base in California where an AI agent processed live targeting data and then controlled an aircraft to execute intercepts. The experiment featured the Air Force’s X-62 Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), which performed 27 autonomous air intercepts across eight flights, according to a press release. 

The demo — dubbed HAVE HEAT — was one of two rapid experiments held under the X-62’s ongoing Mission Systems Upgrade program. The effort broadly aims to expand the test aircraft’s ability to evaluate AI-enabled flight for future combat applications, according to Lt. Col. Joshua Strafaccia, dean of faculty for research at the Air Force Test Pilot School.

“HAVE HEAT represents a meaningful expansion of avionics capability towards integrated, AI-driven control of multiple sensors and air vehicles for mission autonomy,” Strafaccia said in a statement. “This bridges a capability gap and positions us to test advanced autonomy faster.”

For years, the Air Force has been exploring how it can leverage emerging artificial intelligence capabilities for operations, using the X-62 as a flying laboratory for AI research. Experiments have focused on development of autonomous flight, but officials have also emphasized that the technology is prime for data fusion and situational awareness missions.

Unlike previous tests that relied heavily on simulated sensor inputs, HAVE HEAT used real-time onboard infrared data to guide and target a live T-38 Talon aircraft. During the flights, the Air Force and Lockheed Martin aimed to demonstrate that the X-62’s autonomy architecture could inform AI behavior using live sensor data.

To conduct the tests, the Air Force’s Test Pilot School integrated the X-62 with Lockheed Martin’s Infrared Search and Track Legion Pod — a multi-function sensor system that enables fighter jets to passively detect, track and target airborne threats without radar.

“Our ability to provide reliable sensor data is critical, but the real advantage comes when that data can connect seamlessly with AI to take action,” Stacy Kubicek, vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin sensors and global sustainment, said in a statement. “This project demonstrates how sensing and autonomous AI can come together as a force multiplier to make faster, more informed action in complex environments.”

Running alongside the flight campaign was a second effort dubbed HAVE HOLIDAYS, which focused on integrating modular software and hardware into the X-62’s Enterprise Open Mission System Architecture computer.

According to the Air Force, the experiment integrated a third-party autonomous agent to evaluate updated safety constraints designed to prevent autonomous systems from exceeding operator-defined limits and add new processing hardware for advanced sensor exploitation.

Both experiments paved the way for new opportunities once the Air Force completes the X-62’s Mission Systems Upgrade effort. Moving forward, the service plans to integrate RTX’s PhantomStrike radar, expanded onboard computing capacity and modern networking capabilities.

Those upgrades are intended to allow researchers to evaluate multiple sensors, combat systems and autonomous software agents operating together in a networked environment.

“X-62 is continued proof that an agile, dedicated team can rapidly advance Department of War initiatives through intentional collaboration. Accomplishing these significant milestones is a direct reflection of the adaptability and warfighter focus personified by all members of the school,” Col. Maryann Karlen, commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School, said in a statement, using the Trump administration’s preferred name for the Department of Defense.