X-62 VISTA sets precedents with Mission Systems Upgrades, aligns human researchers with AI development for the warfighter

Lt. Col. Philip Downing, 370th Flight Test Squadron commander, and Wei Lee, senior flight test engineer, 418th FLTS, pose after completing a test mission for HAVE HOLIDAYS at Edwards Air Force Base, California, April 29, 2026. HAVE HOLIDAYS saw simultaneous integration and evaluation of a wide suite of modular technologies into the X-62’s Enterprise Open Mission System Architecture computer. This included the integration of a non-prime, third-party autonomous agent onto the X-62, testing of enhanced safety rules to prevent autonomous vehicles from violating user-established operational limits, and further chip integration for advanced sensor exploitation. The research is part of ongoing efforts the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and industry partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lindsey Gordon)