U.S. Air Force’s Top Gun AI pairs F-16 fighter jet pilot with autonomous Valkyrie drone
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According to CBS News, published on October 5, 2025, the U.S. Air Force completed a groundbreaking flight test pairing an F-16 fighter jet with an AI-controlled Valkyrie drone at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The mission marks a major step toward integrating autonomous aircraft into future U.S. combat formations.CBS News reported on October 5, 2025, that the U.S. Air Force successfully conducted a test flight at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where an F-16 fighter jet flew in formation with the AI-operated XQ-58A Valkyrie drone. The classified “Top Gun AI” program seeks to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into combat aviation, marking a major milestone in manned-unmanned teaming and tactical coordination.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet flies in formation with the AI-piloted XQ-58A Valkyrie drone during a test flight over Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, showcasing advanced manned-unmanned teaming under the Top Gun AI program. (Picture source: CBS News video footage)
The test flight demonstrated not only formation flying but also the AI drone’s ability to independently intercept enemy aircraft, process real-time battlespace data, and perform limited dogfight maneuvers. These capabilities point to a transformative leap in how the U.S. Air Force envisions air dominance, shifting from single-platform superiority to coordinated manned-unmanned teaming on a scalable level. According to officials familiar with the test, the AI-controlled XQ-58A executed split-second tactical decisions that would normally challenge even the most experienced pilots, suggesting significant potential for future autonomous air combat roles.
At the heart of this initiative is the Pentagon’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, a critical component of the broader Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) framework. The U.S. Air Force’s ambition is to field up to 1,000 AI-enabled aircraft by the end of the decade, with the XQ-58A serving as one of the leading platforms in ongoing experimentation. These AI aircraft are projected to cost just one-quarter of a modern manned fighter jet, dramatically reducing procurement and operational costs while enabling the deployment of larger, more risk-tolerant air fleets.
The test flight at Eglin is the latest milestone following earlier autonomy trials led by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), which in 2023 successfully flew an XQ-58A entirely under AI control for over three hours. Since then, the U.S. Air Force has advanced rapidly toward complex multi-aircraft scenarios, including coordinated engagements where a single human pilot commands multiple AI drones in simulated combat. The goal is to mature the AI decision-making architecture while retaining human oversight in critical mission phases, such as target verification and weapons release.
To accelerate this integration, the U.S. Air Force has also launched the VENOM (Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model) program, modifying legacy F-16s into flying testbeds for software-based autonomy and AI collaboration. These platforms serve as bridges between traditional fighter tactics and future AI-augmented combat formations. Officials say this experimentation is laying the groundwork for scalable, trusted autonomy that can survive in contested electromagnetic environments, a key requirement for near-peer conflict scenarios.
Strategically, the U.S. Air Force views AI-piloted systems not as replacements for human pilots but as combat multipliers. In high-end warfare scenarios, such as a potential Pacific conflict, swarms of AI-enabled drones could saturate enemy air defenses, act as decoys, or strike high-value targets without risking human life. As General Duke Richardson, head of U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, stated earlier this year, “The aircraft of the future will fight as a team. Some will have pilots. Some won’t. But all will share the same battle rhythm.”
Despite the promising results, serious challenges remain. Ensuring AI can operate reliably in GPS-denied and jammed environments, maintain secure data links, and adhere to evolving rules of engagement are all critical hurdles. Additionally, policymakers and legal experts continue to debate the ethical framework for delegating lethal authority to autonomous systems, a conversation that will only intensify as the U.S. Air Force moves toward operational fielding.
Nonetheless, the test flight involving Major McMullen and the AI-controlled XQ-58A Valkyrie offers a concrete glimpse into the future of air warfare. With AI-piloted combat aircraft expected to enter operational service by the early 2030s, the era of algorithm-driven dogfighting has officially taken flight.
The XQ-58A Valkyrie, developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions under the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) initiative, is a jet-powered, runway-independent unmanned aircraft designed for tactical missions typically reserved for fourth- or fifth-generation fighters. Measuring 30 feet (9.14 meters) in length with a wingspan of 27 feet (8.23 meters), the Valkyrie can cruise at high subsonic speeds, operate up to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters), and has a range exceeding 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometers). Its internal weapons bay and stealth-optimized design allow it to penetrate contested airspace with a low radar cross-section, supporting both kinetic strike and electronic warfare payloads.
Crucially, the XQ-58A is built for attritability, meaning it is intentionally low-cost, modular, and semi-expendable. The aircraft can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost of an F-35, enabling mass production and risk-tolerant deployment. In combat, Valkyries can fly ahead of manned platforms, draw fire from enemy air defenses, suppress radar installations, or deliver precision-guided munitions. In air-to-air scenarios, they can act as autonomous interceptors or decoys, disrupting enemy formations and extending the survivability of human pilots.
Tactically, the XQ-58A offers high operational value through its ability to conduct ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses), and airstrike missions without exposing U.S. personnel. When operating in a loyal wingman configuration, it serves as an intelligent extension of the pilot’s sensor and weapons suite, capable of receiving orders via secure datalinks, adapting to real-time mission data, and executing autonomous maneuvering under combat conditions. In future scenarios, a single F-35 or NGAD fighter could control multiple Valkyries simultaneously, enabling complex, multi-axis engagements that far exceed the capabilities of traditional fighter packages.
For the U.S. Air Force, the XQ-58A is not simply a drone; it is a force amplifier and a harbinger of an AI-centric combat doctrine. As the service prepares for high-intensity peer conflict where speed, scale, and survivability will decide the outcome, aircraft like the Valkyrie offer the asymmetric advantage needed to maintain air dominance in the 21st-century battlespace.Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition GroupAlain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
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According to CBS News, published on October 5, 2025, the U.S. Air Force completed a groundbreaking flight test pairing an F-16 fighter jet with an AI-controlled Valkyrie drone at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The mission marks a major step toward integrating autonomous aircraft into future U.S. combat formations.
CBS News reported on October 5, 2025, that the U.S. Air Force successfully conducted a test flight at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where an F-16 fighter jet flew in formation with the AI-operated XQ-58A Valkyrie drone. The classified “Top Gun AI” program seeks to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into combat aviation, marking a major milestone in manned-unmanned teaming and tactical coordination.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet flies in formation with the AI-piloted XQ-58A Valkyrie drone during a test flight over Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, showcasing advanced manned-unmanned teaming under the Top Gun AI program. (Picture source: CBS News video footage)
The test flight demonstrated not only formation flying but also the AI drone’s ability to independently intercept enemy aircraft, process real-time battlespace data, and perform limited dogfight maneuvers. These capabilities point to a transformative leap in how the U.S. Air Force envisions air dominance, shifting from single-platform superiority to coordinated manned-unmanned teaming on a scalable level. According to officials familiar with the test, the AI-controlled XQ-58A executed split-second tactical decisions that would normally challenge even the most experienced pilots, suggesting significant potential for future autonomous air combat roles.
At the heart of this initiative is the Pentagon’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, a critical component of the broader Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) framework. The U.S. Air Force’s ambition is to field up to 1,000 AI-enabled aircraft by the end of the decade, with the XQ-58A serving as one of the leading platforms in ongoing experimentation. These AI aircraft are projected to cost just one-quarter of a modern manned fighter jet, dramatically reducing procurement and operational costs while enabling the deployment of larger, more risk-tolerant air fleets.
The test flight at Eglin is the latest milestone following earlier autonomy trials led by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), which in 2023 successfully flew an XQ-58A entirely under AI control for over three hours. Since then, the U.S. Air Force has advanced rapidly toward complex multi-aircraft scenarios, including coordinated engagements where a single human pilot commands multiple AI drones in simulated combat. The goal is to mature the AI decision-making architecture while retaining human oversight in critical mission phases, such as target verification and weapons release.
To accelerate this integration, the U.S. Air Force has also launched the VENOM (Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model) program, modifying legacy F-16s into flying testbeds for software-based autonomy and AI collaboration. These platforms serve as bridges between traditional fighter tactics and future AI-augmented combat formations. Officials say this experimentation is laying the groundwork for scalable, trusted autonomy that can survive in contested electromagnetic environments, a key requirement for near-peer conflict scenarios.
Strategically, the U.S. Air Force views AI-piloted systems not as replacements for human pilots but as combat multipliers. In high-end warfare scenarios, such as a potential Pacific conflict, swarms of AI-enabled drones could saturate enemy air defenses, act as decoys, or strike high-value targets without risking human life. As General Duke Richardson, head of U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, stated earlier this year, “The aircraft of the future will fight as a team. Some will have pilots. Some won’t. But all will share the same battle rhythm.”
Despite the promising results, serious challenges remain. Ensuring AI can operate reliably in GPS-denied and jammed environments, maintain secure data links, and adhere to evolving rules of engagement are all critical hurdles. Additionally, policymakers and legal experts continue to debate the ethical framework for delegating lethal authority to autonomous systems, a conversation that will only intensify as the U.S. Air Force moves toward operational fielding.
Nonetheless, the test flight involving Major McMullen and the AI-controlled XQ-58A Valkyrie offers a concrete glimpse into the future of air warfare. With AI-piloted combat aircraft expected to enter operational service by the early 2030s, the era of algorithm-driven dogfighting has officially taken flight.
The XQ-58A Valkyrie, developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions under the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) initiative, is a jet-powered, runway-independent unmanned aircraft designed for tactical missions typically reserved for fourth- or fifth-generation fighters. Measuring 30 feet (9.14 meters) in length with a wingspan of 27 feet (8.23 meters), the Valkyrie can cruise at high subsonic speeds, operate up to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters), and has a range exceeding 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometers). Its internal weapons bay and stealth-optimized design allow it to penetrate contested airspace with a low radar cross-section, supporting both kinetic strike and electronic warfare payloads.
Crucially, the XQ-58A is built for attritability, meaning it is intentionally low-cost, modular, and semi-expendable. The aircraft can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost of an F-35, enabling mass production and risk-tolerant deployment. In combat, Valkyries can fly ahead of manned platforms, draw fire from enemy air defenses, suppress radar installations, or deliver precision-guided munitions. In air-to-air scenarios, they can act as autonomous interceptors or decoys, disrupting enemy formations and extending the survivability of human pilots.
Tactically, the XQ-58A offers high operational value through its ability to conduct ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses), and airstrike missions without exposing U.S. personnel. When operating in a loyal wingman configuration, it serves as an intelligent extension of the pilot’s sensor and weapons suite, capable of receiving orders via secure datalinks, adapting to real-time mission data, and executing autonomous maneuvering under combat conditions. In future scenarios, a single F-35 or NGAD fighter could control multiple Valkyries simultaneously, enabling complex, multi-axis engagements that far exceed the capabilities of traditional fighter packages.
For the U.S. Air Force, the XQ-58A is not simply a drone; it is a force amplifier and a harbinger of an AI-centric combat doctrine. As the service prepares for high-intensity peer conflict where speed, scale, and survivability will decide the outcome, aircraft like the Valkyrie offer the asymmetric advantage needed to maintain air dominance in the 21st-century battlespace.
Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
