The X-62 Vista, the world’s first AI fighter jet built on an F-16 Viper airframe, recently engaged in a real dogfight against a human pilot, an event monitored by the Air Force with the outcome remaining classified. This milestone in 2023 marked the first instance of an AI-controlled aircraft facing a manned fighter in close aerial combat. As of late 2025, the X-62 is undergoing a Mission Systems Upgrade to enhance its capabilities with advanced radar, sensors, and AI, further enabling the testing of its complex autonomy and evaluation of AI collaboration with manned fighters at Edwards Air Force Base.

Air Force: The U.S. Air Force operates the X-62 VISTA through its Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, utilizing it for cutting-edge testing of AI agents and autonomous systems in fighter aircraft. The service has conducted flight tests where AI piloted the X-62 in advanced maneuvers, including dogfights, as part of programs like Skyborg and DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution. In the news, the Air Force classified the outcome of the 2023 AI-versus-human dogfight, fueling speculation about AI’s superiority in air combat.
X-62 Vista: The X-62 VISTA is an experimental aircraft derived from the F-16D Fighting Falcon, modified as a variable stability in-flight simulator test aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. It features advanced software enabling real-time reprogramming to mimic the performance of other aircraft and serves as a testbed for artificial intelligence in autonomous flight. In the news, it is highlighted as the world’s first AI fighter jet, which engaged in a classified dogfight against a human-piloted F-16 in 2023, demonstrating AI’s potential in aerial combat.

`json
{
“Test Platform Role”: “The X-62 VISTA supports evaluation of AI collaboration with manned fighters and networked combat scenarios at Edwards Air Force Base.”,
“AI Dogfight Milestone”: “In 2023, the X-62 VISTA achieved the first-ever dogfight between AI-controlled and human-piloted aircraft.”
}
`