Artificial intelligence flew the Lockheed Martin
VISTA X-62A training aircraft for more than 17 hours recently, the
first time AI has officially been engaged on a tactical aircraft.
VISTA, short for Variable In-flight Simulation
Test Aircraft, has been developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
in collaboration with Calspan Corporation for the U.S. Air Force
Test Pilot School (USAF TPS) at Edwards Air Force Base in
California.
Built on open systems architecture, VISTA is
fitted with software that allows it to mimic the performance
characteristics of other aircraft, creating more realistic
challenges for training fighter pilots.
“VISTA will allow us to parallelize the
development and test of cutting-edge artificial intelligence
techniques with new uncrewed vehicle designs,” said Dr. M.
Christopher Cotting, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School director of
research. “This approach, combined with focused testing on new
vehicle systems as they are produced, will rapidly mature autonomy
for uncrewed platforms and allow us to deliver tactically relevant
capability to our warfighter.”
Recent upgrades by the U.S. Air Force include an
updated VISTA Simulation System (VSS) provided by Calspan, and
Lockheed Martin’s Model Following Algorithm (MFA), and System for
Autonomous Control of the Simulation (SACS).
The SACS and MFA systems integrated together
provide new capabilities to the VISTA so it can be used to conduct
the most advanced flight test experiments emphasizing autonomy and
AI.
The 17-plus hour flight by AI took place as part
of a series of tests in December.
VISTA is a modified F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble Il
aircraft upgraded with Block 40 avionics.
Previously designated
NF-16D, in June 2021 VISTA was recognized by the U.S. Air Force
and deemed a national asset with a formal redesignation to VISTA
X-62A.
This new mission system capability with VSS, MFA
and SACS emphasize advancing autonomous aircraft algorithm
development and integration. At the heart of SACS system is the
Skunk Works Enterprise-wide Open Systems Architecture (E-OSA)
which powers the Enterprise Mission Computer version 2 (EMC2) or
“Einstein Box”.
Additional SACS components include integration of
advanced sensors, a Multi-Level Security solution, and a set of
Getac tablet displays in both cockpits.
All theoe components enhance
VISTA’s capabilities while maintaining its rapid-prototyping
advantage, specifically allowing for quick software changes to
increase the frequency of flight test flights and accelerating the
pace of AI and autonomy development to meet national
security needs.
VISTA will continue to serve an integral role in
the rapid development of AI and autonomy capabilities for U.S. Air
Force. The system is currently undergoing a series of routine inspections
and flights will resume at Edwards Air Force Base throughout 2023.
