US Air Force Chooses 50‑Year‑Old F‑16 for Autonomous Flight Test

The United States Air Force has selected the General Dynamics F‑16 Fighting Falcon, a 50‑year‑old aircraft, to lead a new program aimed at testing autonomous fighter flight. The decision marks a departure from the more recent Lockheed Martin F‑35 Lightning II, which was not chosen for this role. The initiative, known as VENOM—short for Viper Experimentation and Next‑Generation Operations Model—will use the F‑16’s proven airframe and avionics to explore artificial intelligence capabilities in combat scenarios. By leveraging a mature platform, the Air Force hopes to accelerate development and reduce costs while validating autonomous flight concepts that could be applied to future aircraft.