Air Force Received X-62 Research Proposals

The U.S. Air Force reviewed over 30 test proposals for its X-62 research jet during an August 2026 symposium.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Military

Isometric editorial illustration of a generic aerodynamic testbed vehicle in a sterile research facility, representing autonomous flight development research. — The U.S. Air Force selected three autonomous flight software concepts for testing on its X-62 research platform during 2027 and 2028. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Following a research symposium at Edwards Air Force Base in August 2026, the U.S. Air Force gathered over 30 test proposals for the X-62 VISTA. This modified F-16D aircraft will now fly three selected concepts during fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Why it matters

The Air Force aims to accelerate autonomous flight development by testing third-party software on the X-62. These initiatives are designed to help the research platform operate alongside the future VENOM F-16 fleet.

The Air Force requested three flight test concepts for the X-62 out of more than 30 submissions. These tests are scheduled to be executed throughout fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

The players

U.S. Air Force

This branch of the United States Armed Forces is responsible for aerial warfare and the development of advanced flight technologies.

412th Test Wing

Based at Edwards Air Force Base, this unit manages the development, testing, and evaluation of aerospace weapon systems.

3Laws Robotics

This technology company provided runtime assurance software for the X-62 during the HAVE DREIDEL test campaign.

The details

The X-62 VISTA, a modified two-seat F-16D, acts as a flexible testbed that mimics various aircraft handling characteristics while safety pilots remain on board. Recent integration work includes the use of IBM NorthPole chips to calculate trajectories and various software frameworks like BirdBox, tested under the HAVE THANKS campaign.

The X-62 performed combat-style maneuvering in 2023.
The HAVE HEAT campaign successfully intercepted an airborne target in April 2026.
A research symposium was held at Edwards Air Force Base in August 2026.
The 412th Test Wing released details regarding the symposium on October 13, 2026.
Selected test concepts are planned to fly during fiscal 2027 and 2028.

Political Context

The X-62 project is closely integrated with the development of the VENOM F-16 program. Skeptics of autonomous military flight often raise concerns regarding the potential for algorithmic failure in combat scenarios.

These flight tests directly impact national defense budget allocations and the procurement of future autonomous aerospace technologies. Taxpayers should expect continued federal investment in software development platforms as the Air Force modernizes its aerial capabilities.

The takeaway

The Air Force is prioritizing agile software testing to rapidly evolve combat flight capabilities. Future developments will focus on integrating these autonomous systems into the active service fleet.