Overview
- Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force disclosed on Aug. 4, 2026 that AI agents completed 27 autonomous intercepts across eight X-62 sorties flown in April against a live T-38 target.
- An onboard AI agent ingested classified Legion Pod infrared search-and-track (IRST) heat-tracking feeds and autonomously flew the X-62 into tactical intercept positions in real time.
- The flights were run under the HAVE HEAT and HAVE HOLIDAYS test campaigns and tied to the X-62 Mission Systems Upgrade, which will next add RTX’s PhantomStrike AESA radar and updated networking.
- Engineers emphasized controlled, safety-focused testing that used third-party agents and explicit operational limits, and Lockheed said its 'Supermassive' tool enabled integration and ground testing in about three months.
- The results will help shape the Air Force’s Agile Mission Suite and Autonomy government reference architectures and provide technical input to programs such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft as the service seeks to scale airborne autonomy.