Autonomy and agency

Air Force Secretary rides in AI-controlled X-62A dogfight

An AI-controlled X-62A flew Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall through a live air-combat demonstration against a human-piloted F-16, after which Kendall publicly backed continued development toward a planned fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous warplanes.

CURRENT ASSESSMENT · REVISION 1
TOWARD DOOM69confidence 98/100

Why it moved the index

The new May flight demonstrated AI control during a close live combat exercise with the service's top civilian official aboard and materially strengthened institutional commitment to consequential military autonomy. It is distinct from April's disclosure of the completed 2023 test campaign.

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AUDIT TRAIL

Assessment history

  1. R1
    Toward 69 · confidence 98

    New May 2024 completed autonomous combat-flight demonstration, distinct from the earlier test-program disclosure.

    12 Aug 2026