The USAF Test Pilot School, together with DARPA, has achieved a significant milestone in aerospace innovation, utilizing the X-62A VISTA aircraft in advanced AI tests under the ACE program. This effort recently placed them as finalists for the prestigious 2023 Robert J. Collier Trophy, highlighting their pioneering work in autonomous air-to-air combat—a feat once deemed a distant dream.


  • Significant Achievements: The collaboration has led to over 100,000 lines of flight-critical software updates, enabling the first AI versus human dogfight scenarios.

  • Future Implications: This breakthrough not only promises enhanced safety and reliability in aerospace applications but also sets the stage for future advancements in both commercial and defense sectors.

  • Collaborative Effort: The success of the ACE program is a result of robust partnerships spanning academia, government, and industry, with contributions from entities like Johns Hopkins, MIT, and Lockheed Martin.

This milestone marks a paradigm shift in how autonomous systems could be integrated and trusted in real-world aerospace scenarios.