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- DARPA 与美国空军试飞 AI 控制的 F-16
DARPA 与美国空军试飞 AI 控制的 F-16
具有历史意义的 VENOM 里程碑展示了面向作战机队的可扩展 AI 开发能力
一架改装了“蝰蛇实验与下一代作战模型”（VENOM）自主套件的 F-16 正在进行人在回路的空中 AI 模型测试，推进 DARPA“人工智能增强”（AIR）项目下的飞行自主能力。| 图片来源：美国空军 | Samuel King Jr.，第 96 测试联队
2026 年 7 月 16 日
佛罗里达州埃格林空军基地 — 一架近期改装为自主飞行试验平台的美国空军 F-16 战斗机，正在使用人工智能（AI）智能体进行空中测试，以实现自主飞行控制。这一里程碑推进了最先进的技术基础设施建设，旨在为联合部队实现快速、可扩展的作战 AI 开发。
该机是“蝰蛇实验与下一代作战模型”（VENOM）项目下被改装为具备自主能力平台的一组 F-16 之一——这是美国空军与 DARPA 的联合项目，在“空战演进”（ACE）项目框架下启动。
在先前使用独一无二的 X-62A VISTA 进行的 ACE 试飞（证明了 AI 智能体能够在近距离空战中自主驾驶战斗机）基础上，VENOM 飞机的试飞展示了美国将标准作战机队飞机改造为采用尖端 AI 的能力。
“这些具有开创意义的 VENOM 改装版 F-16 飞行测试，推进了开发可信赖的自主空战能力所需的基础设施建设，”DARPA 项目经理、博士 James “Fangs” Valpiani 准将表示。“空军与 DARPA 联合团队在不改动标准 F-16 核心软件的前提下，实现了飞行控制和传感器的自动化。这为开发制胜空战的强大 AI 打造了一条高效流水线，使我们能够为作战人员快速创新。”
这项改装被称为 VENOM 自主套件（VAK），由 DARPA ACE 项目下的多个执行方共同设计和集成。该套件采用了一种与飞机飞行控制和任务系统相连的新型接口，使飞行员只需拨动一个开关，就能在传统人工操控与 AI 操控之间切换。这为人在回路的实验提供了安全、可靠的环境。
展望未来，VENOM 飞机将成为 DARPA 人工智能增强（AIR）项目下下一阶段 AI 开发的基石。AIR 项目将利用 VENOM 机队在真实飞行场景中测试多个 AI 智能体。这一关键测试将为人类飞行员无缝指挥和调度自主无人驾驶飞机编队铺平道路。最终，AIR 项目所推进的能力将支撑未来多种联合作战行动，包括协同作战飞机项目。
一架为“蝰蛇实验与下一代作战模式——自主飞行试验台”（VENOM）项目改装的 F-16“战隼”战斗机，于 2026 年 6 月在埃格林空军基地进行自主系统测试期间执行飞行任务。VENOM F-16 作为经过改装的空中试验平台，配备了专用硬件、软件和仪器设备，旨在让 AI 智能体能够驾驶飞机，同时人类飞行员留在座舱内监控 AI 智能体，确保飞行和任务系统测试目标得以实现，从而快速演进自主作战能力。| 下载
来源：美国空军 | Samuel King Jr.，第 96 测试联队
瓦尔皮亚尼补充道：“新兴威胁环境，尤其是与空战相关的部分，正变得日益复杂。人工智能在超视距作战中帮助人类管理这种复杂性方面拥有巨大潜力，但在现代战争极端迷雾与摩擦中，作战AI的性能与可信度仍存在许多难题。AIR项目旨在将前沿作战智能体应用于作战相关场景，以解答这些问题，并为作战人员提供威慑制胜的能力。”
瓦尔皮亚尼将于本月晚些时候结束其DARPA项目经理的任期。帕特里克·“骰子”·海兰中校（博士）近期加入DARPA，担任AIR项目新任项目经理。
海兰表示：“我为AIR项目在推动我国作战自主性方面所发挥的作用深感自豪，VENOM里程碑就是最好的证明。我们现在有机会为超视距、多机协同作战打造主导性自主能力。这些试飞让我们初步看到AI智能体如何开始积极改变空战形态。”
空军研究实验室自主能力团队（ACT3）的AI开发与转型主任特里·威尔逊博士继续担任VENOM和AIR项目的副经理。在此职位上，威尔逊确保项目关键连续性、技术与作战领导力，并维护联合机构间关键利益相关方的协调一致。DARPA与AFRL的ACT3团队之间这种紧密而持久的合作关系，对确保项目长期作战成功仍然至关重要。
威尔逊表示：“我与瓦尔皮亚尼将军一样，深切感谢我们的DARPA和工业界团队、联合工程师、系统项目办公室、埃格林基地的测试与维护人员，以及整个AIR和VENOM生态系统，正是他们的卓越奉献使这一里程碑成为可能。我期待释放VENOM平台的潜力，让这些能力走出仿真、飞向天空。”
AIR 项目将继续提升模型开发的速度与可预测性，并将飞行中测试扩展至多机协同作战，以应对更高复杂度，从而解锁新颖且稳健的 AI 驱动的自主能力。
有疑问的媒体请联系 DARPA 公共事务部。
**“**这些经过 VENOM 改装的 F-16 所进行的开创性飞行测试，推进了开发可信、自主空战能力所需的基础设施建设。
– **James “Fangs” Valpiani 博士，**DARPA 项目经理
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DARPA, U.S. Air Force fly AI-controlled F-16
Historic VENOM milestone demonstrates scalable AI development capabilities for the operational fleet
An F-16 modified with the Viper Experimentation and Next-generation Operations Model (VENOM) Autonomy Kit performs human-on-the-loop in-air testing of AI models, advancing flight autonomy within DARPA's Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program. | DownloadSource: U.S. Air Force | Samuel King Jr., 96th Test Wing
July 16, 2026
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. — A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet, recently modified to serve as an autonomous flying testbed, is undergoing in-air testing using an artificial intelligence (AI) agent to autonomously control flight. This milestone advances state of the art technological infrastructure designed to enable rapid, scalable combat AI development across the joint force.
The aircraft is one of a group of F-16s that have been converted into autonomous-capable platforms under the Viper Experimentation and Next-generation Operations Model (VENOM) program — a joint effort between the U.S. Air Force and DARPA, initiated under the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program.
Building on previous ACE flights with the one-of-a-kind X-62A VISTA, which proved an AI agent could autonomously pilot a fighter jet in a dogfight, the flight of the VENOM aircraft demonstrates the United States’ ability to transform standard operational fleet aircraft to employ cutting-edge AI.
“These groundbreaking flight tests of VENOM-modified F-16s advance the infrastructure needed to develop trusted, autonomous air combat capabilities,” said Brig. Gen. James “Fangs” Valpiani, Ph.D., DARPA program manager. “The Air Force and DARPA team has automated flight controls and sensors on a standard F-16 without changing the jet’s core software. This enables an efficient pipeline for developing dominant AI for aerial combat, allowing us to rapidly innovate for the warfighter.”
The modification, known as the VENOM Autonomy Kit (VAK), was designed and integrated by multiple performers under the DARPA ACE program. The kit utilizes a novel interface with the aircraft’s flight controls and mission systems, allowing a pilot to toggle between traditional human control and AI control with the flip of a switch. This ensures a safe, reliable environment for human-on-the-loop experimentation.
Moving forward, VENOM aircraft will serve as the cornerstone for the next phase of AI development under DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements (AIR) program. The AIR program will leverage the VENOM fleet to test multiple AI agents in live-flight scenarios. This critical testing will pave the way for human pilots to seamlessly command and orchestrate teams of autonomous, uncrewed aircraft. Ultimately, the capabilities advanced under AIR will enable a wide variety of future joint force operations, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs.
An F-16 Fighting Falcon modified for the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed (VENOM) program conducts flight operations during autonomous systems testing June 2026 at Eglin Air Force Base. The VENOM F-16s serve as modified airborne test platforms equipped with specialized hardware, software, and instrumentation designed to enable artificial intelligence agents to pilot the aircraft while human pilots remain in the cockpit to monitor the AI agents and ensure flight and mission systems test objectives are met to rapidly evolve autonomous capabilities. | Download
Source: U.S. Air Force | Samuel King Jr., 96th Test Wing
“The emerging threat environment, especially as it relates to aerial combat, is growing increasingly complex,” added Valpiani. “AI has tremendous potential to help humans manage this complexity in beyond-visual-range combat, but many hard questions remain concerning the performance and trustworthiness of combat AI in the extreme fog and friction of modern warfare. The AIR program aims to apply cutting-edge combat agents to operationally relevant scenarios to address these questions and field war-deterring, war-winning capabilities to our warfighters.”
Valpiani will conclude his tenure as a DARPA program manager later this month. Lt. Col. Patrick “Dice” Highland, Ph.D., has recently joined DARPA, and is the incoming program manager for AIR.
“I’m incredibly proud of the AIR program’s role in advancing our nation’s combat autonomy, demonstrated by this VENOM milestone,” said Highland. “We now have the opportunity to create dominant autonomy for beyond-visual-range, multi-ship combat. These flights give us an early glimpse of how AI agents may begin actively transforming air warfare.”
Terry Wilson, Ph.D., director of AI Development and Transition for the Air Force Research Laboratory's Autonomy Capability Team (ACT3), remains in place as the deputy program manager for VENOM and AIR. In this capacity, Wilson ensures vital program continuity, technical and operations leadership, and maintains essential stakeholder alignment across joint organizations. This close, enduring partnership between DARPA and AFRL’s ACT3 team remains pivotal to securing the program's long-term operational success.
“I share Gen. Valpiani's deep appreciation for the incredible dedication of our DARPA and industry teammates, joint engineers, the System Program Office, Eglin’s test and maintenance crews, and the entire AIR and VENOM ecosystem which has made this milestone possible,” said Wilson. “I look forward to unleashing the VENOM platform and moving these capabilities out of simulation and into the sky.”
The AIR program will continue to improve speed and predictivity of model development and scale in-flight testing to multi-ship operations with increased complexity to unlock novel and robust AI-driven autonomy.
Media with inquiries should contact DARPA Public Affairs.
**“**These groundbreaking flight tests of VENOM-modified F-16s advance the infrastructure needed to develop trusted, autonomous air combat capabilities.
– **James “Fangs” Valpiani, Ph.D.,**DARPA program manager