autonomous flight Archives

Rachel Kinard, Air Force Test Pilot School director of research, and Lt. Col. Philip Downing, 370th Flight Test Squadron commander, depart for a HAVE HEAT test mission at Edwards Air Force Base, California, April 16, 2026. Leveraging Lockheed Martin’s Infrared Search and Track Legion Pod, during the HAVE HEAT program, the X-62 VISTA platform demonstrated the ability of AI agents to ingest live infrared sensor data, directing the X-62 to autonomously intercept an airborne target in real time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lindsey Iniguez)

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

During one of the latest Air Force experiments, the X-62 VISTA conducted 27 autonomous air intercepts across eight flights.

Aug 5, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

Anduril unveils Thunder attack helicopter, a new loyal wingman drone

Anduril believes Thunder could serve as a loyal wingman platform for the Army's helicopter fleet, including the AH-64 Apache and the next-gen MV-75 Cheyenne II.

Jul 20, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

Air Force picks Anduril, General Atomics to build first operational CCA drones

The Air Force has also selected Anduril, Shield AI and Collins Aerospace to compete for the contract to serve as CCA Increment 1's primary mission autonomy software…

Jun 17, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

The U.S. Army officially received a groundbreaking H-60Mx Black Hawk helicopter, extensively modified to fly with or without a pilot at the controls. (Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company)

Army receives first optionally-piloted Black Hawk helicopter

“After years of successful demonstrations on both commercial and military aircraft, the technology has matured. It is now a reliable system, ready for formal military evaluation,” the…

Mar 20, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline at a California test location as part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft flight test campaign. (Courtesy Air Force photo)

Air Force begins testing mission autonomy package for CCA prototypes

General Atomics and Anduril are working with Collins Aerospace and Shield AI, respectively, to integrate mission autonomy software onto their CCA prototypes and conduct semi-autonomous flights.

Feb 12, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

A YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft takes off during flight testing at a California test location. (Courtesy photo)

Marine Corps brings General Atomics into CCA program for autonomy development

The Marines will use General Atomics’ YFQ-42A aircraft to evaluate how the service’s future loyal wingman drones will integrate with and fly alongside crewed fighter jets.

Feb 10, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

Shield AI reveals VTOL autonomous fighter jet dubbed X-BAT

The company expects to conduct first vertical-take-off-and-landing (VTOL) flight tests of X-BAT sometime next year.

Oct 22, 2025 By Mikayla Easley

DEVCOM’s MX Black Hawk aircraft to be equipped with the MATRIX autonomy system. (Sikorsky photo)

DARPA to test autonomous flight capability on Army’s Black Hawk helicopter in 2025

Sikorsky has received a contract to integrate its MATRIX autonomy system onto a UH-60M and conduct demonstrations next year.

Oct 14, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

A BQM-177 aerial target conducts test flight from China Lake, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy testing autonomous flight capabilities with aerial targets

NAVAIR has launched a new effort to integrate an AI-enabled pilot with the BQM-177A.

Aug 30, 2024 By Mikayla Easley