Reported by Airforce Technology:
Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) X-62A, previously designated NF-16D, is a one-of-a-kind training aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® together with Calspan for the United States Air Force Test Pilot School (USAF TPS) at Edwards Air Force Base (Edwards AFB) in California, US.
The VISTA was flown by an AI-driven autonomy agent for more than 17 hours, which marked the first time AI was used to operate a tactical aircraft. The test flight was part of 12 flight tests conducted by a joint team of the US Department of Defence (DoD) to carry out advanced fighter manoeuvres at the Edwards AFB in December 2022.
The AI-driven autonomy agents of AFRL’s Autonomous Air Combat Operations (AACO) and DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) piloted the VISTA X-62A for the exercises. AACO’s AI agents performed one-on-one beyond-visual-range (BVR), simulated enemy engagements, while ACE’s AI agents conducted dogfighting exercises, against constructive AI red-team agents.
The tactical manoeuvres were performed autonomously, while respecting the airspace boundaries of the real world.
The modified VISTA X-62A aircraft has a length of 48ft 7in (14.8m), a height of 15ft 9in (4.8m), and a wingspan of 32ft 2in (9.8m). The aircraft uses National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 64A204 airfoils at root and tip sections of the wings.
It can fly with a maximum take-off weight of 42,300lb (19,187kg) and can carry two crew members, including a pilot and a safety pilot. The gross weight of the aircraft is 26,463lb (12,003kg), while the empty weight is 18,238lb (8,273kg).
The VISTA aircraft is one of the four aircraft used to support autonomy testing for the AFRL’s Skyborg programme, which is an AI-driven project to develop unmanned combat aerial vehicles that will fly alongside manned fighter aircraft.
The other three platforms used for the Skyborg programme testing are UTAP-22 Mako, Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie, and MQ-20 Avenger unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
Skyborg will provide key data to enable pilots to make quick, informed decisions in contested environments. It will provide increased situational awareness and survivability to pilots during combat missions.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
This latest development in not just AI, but AI warfare specifically; and when your project is called “Skyborg,” the end of the story cannot be a good one…
SEE: Pentagon Is Moving Toward AI Killer Drones To Target People, Other Nations Deliberating As Well
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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this is old news, this article has been out for a couple of weeks.
Cary, it may be “old news”, but it’s still quite relevant, wouldn’t you agree? There’s just far too many news stories these days to be able to stay abreast of all of them, much less, publish them. A single issue could have upwards of a thousand news stories…too long, and not enough time to read them all. Jacob does the best he can.
I had not seen it before . . .
News is coming at us from all directions, like a firehouse.
I appreciate Jacob and his efforts.
Mess with fire and ya gets burned, when will they wake up to reality, this is a rabbit hole with a one-way door that closes behind them and doesn’t open back up!!
Mankind don’t know when to stop; it’s called point of no return for a reason!
God is laughing at their weak understanding.
What could possibly go wrong?! Dance with the devil and expect a lot of hell. This isn’t going to be a good thing, but will be fun to watch from above, when King Jesus deals with them at His Second Coming!
I’ll admit: I don’t like these types of stories…but it is what it is, & I got to thinking about this, remembering what we may leave behind upon rapture: blood, clothing, etc. Some used to think that they’d blame Islamic suicide bombers& America would be heroes rather than guilty partners & potential scapegoats….& the thought of folks believing it to be Islamic suicide bombers isn’t out of the realm of possibility given this latest steered mess & crusade going on by Rome.
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They’ve hyped up fake King James Bible believers to be a bunch of hateful nutjobs with Westboro ‘baptist’ & Phelps, Steven Anderson & such people…..on top of other men who’ve fallen or turned, whether plants or not: like Hovind, etc. Then there’s that the U.S. or NYC are Babylon lie being cultivated for a reason, too.
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We need to be praying against those things, staying well separated from them, & pointing them out as unbiblical & false without becoming hateful ourselves, which is the trap laid. Satan is subtle.
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If it goes that far: Think how the aftermath of the rapture might be construed by the antichrist ecumenical Catholics….the Jews & the Islamic people, as well. Prone to believing the worst anyways, they could all use that excuse as the technology spreads & is shared. All these drones & AI stuff.
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The Lord doesn’t need such things to turn enemies against themselves: he did it several times in the Old Testament: leading Gideon with his 300 men against the Midianites& Amalekites, & later with the Assyrians in the days of Hezekiah. Remember when he had one of the generals dig trenches & the enemy army saw the red reflection of the dawn’s light, thought it was blood & dropped their guard….rushing to the spoil & plunder only to be slaughtered? I think that was Ahab & Jehoshaphat.
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But it is spoken of with regard to endtime madness, too. Every man’s sword against the others.
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Talk about reaping what you sowed. Not fun to think about in the flesh, but in terms of bolstering faith in God’s word looking forward to that continuing city. What a God, and what a Book!
I’m all for leaving all this corrupt world has to offer, so hopefully we will be out of here before the crooked elections are here. That day will be very chaotic, but the day of the Rapture will beat that day by a long shot. Hope to see all the brothers and sisters real soon.