Last week, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) announced that the latest F-16 Fighting Falcon jet, intended to undergo modifications for autonomous flight, had arrived at Eglin Air Force Base as part of the service’s VENOM program. The aircraft landed at the base on April 1st, joining three other F-16s already undergoing the necessary work to integrate these capabilities.
Commenting on the development, Major Trent McMullen, head of the advanced capabilities division of the 40th Flight Test Squadron, stated: “Modifying the aircraft is the result of a rigorous design phase and brings us one step closer to testing autonomy on a fighter jet with real mission systems and capabilities.” The USAF also reported: “A new physical change to the aircraft will be the inclusion of an auto-throttle. This modification allows the autonomy flying VENOM to regulate the flight control surfaces and the thrust.”
It’s worth noting that while these modifications are being carried out, personnel at Eglin are conducting a wide array of simulations to test the components that will enable autonomous flight in the F-16s. These tests begin with one-on-one air combat scenarios and will later move on to two-versus-two engagements. Additionally, the platforms have participated in simulations involving beyond-visual-range combat scenarios, aimed at providing new data to the technical teams developing the VENOM program.
Once these simulated tests are completed, the systems will enter a new phase of hardware and software testing to verify proper synchronization with the aircraft’s onboard systems. Furthermore, the autonomy capabilities will be evaluated in a simulator to ensure they adhere to pre-programmed operational limits—for example, altitude ceilings that must not be exceeded, even if an autonomous command to surpass them is issued. This step is vital to ensure the safety of both the aircraft and the pilot (who will supervise its performance) during real-world testing.
Finally, it’s worth recalling that this ambitious program has achieved these milestones in a relatively short timeframe—undoubtedly a success in itself. Specifically, the first fully modified F-16 is expected to be ready for testing just 18 months after its arrival at Eglin, made possible largely due to the collaboration of pilots and technicians from different departments working together at the same location.
*Image credits: Samuel King Jr.
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