The drones served in a "loyal wingman" role to the pilots, marking “a major leap in human-machine teaming," the Air Force ...

A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet receives fuel from a KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft near Misawa Air Base in Japan on June 5, 2025. Senior Airman Robert Nichols/U.S. Air Force The U.S ...

A United States Air Force F-16 fighter jet takes off for a trilateral defensive counter-air training at Osan Air Base in South Korea on June 18, 2025. Senior Airman Rome Bowermaster/U.S. Air Force ...

The service said the AI helped speed up decisions and reduce the cognitive load on operators. It's one example of how the US military is working with AI in combat-related roles.

A recent US Air Force test involved artificial intelligence in kill chain decisions. The service said the AI helped speed up decisions and reduce the cognitive load on operators.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilots integrated two Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie drones into an aerial combat training exercise at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base in what the Air Force has described as “a ...