The U.S. Air Force will test a modified version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet as part of Skyborg's low-cost AI-powered drone program

The U.S. Air Force plans to test a modified version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

Here's What We Know

In the early summer of 2021, the U.S. Air Force completed a modification of the F-16 into an experimental X-series fighter. It was designated X-62A VISTA and was part of the Skyborg program, under which the United States is creating drones based on artificial intelligence.

The X line includes several aircraft. These include the Bell X-1, which was the first to break the sound barrier, and the X-35, a prototype of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet. They are used to test new military technologies and aerodynamic concepts.

The X-62A VISTA is based on the NF-16D VISTA, a U.S. Air Force Flight Test Pilot School flight simulator. Specialists have completed the replacement of the variable stability simulation system to enable the fighter to perform tests in the Skyborg program.

Source: The Eurasian Times

Image: Edwards Air Force Base

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