Raytheon has received a contract to equip the U.S. Air Force’s autonomous X-62A VISTA test aircraft with its PhantomStrike fire-control radar, the UK Defence Journal understands.
VISTA, a modified F-16D Block 30 with updated avionics and machine-learning integration, has been used by the Air Force Test Pilot School to trial artificial intelligence for tactical flight control. In late 2023 the aircraft completed more than 17 hours of AI-driven flight, marking the first time an artificial intelligence agent flew a tactical aircraft, according to the Air Force.
Raytheon says PhantomStrike is an air-cooled, compact radar designed for crewed and uncrewed platforms, including UAVs and light-attack aircraft. The company frames the system as a lower-cost alternative to traditional active electronically scanned array radars.
“Autonomous aircraft are poised to play a key role in helping the U.S. maintain air superiority, and Raytheon’s PhantomStrike radar is uniquely designed to help them do it,” said Dan Theisen, president of Advanced Products & Solutions at Raytheon. He added that the radar’s use of gallium nitride components and its cooling approach represent a “revolutionary” shift in manufacturing and cost efficiency.
Raytheon states that PhantomStrike provides digital beam forming and multimode capability for both air and ground targeting at roughly half the cost of current fire-control radars. The selection will support continued autonomous testing as the Air Force develops concepts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft and semi-autonomous systems.
The X-62A’s open architecture allows it to replicate other aircraft handling characteristics and integrate emerging autonomy software. Dr. M. Christopher Cotting, director of research at the Air Force Test Pilot School, previously said the jet enables “parallelize[d] development and test of cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques with new uncrewed vehicle designs,” allowing autonomy to mature faster for operational use.
OT.
Would love to see articles here regarding Chinese “Defence”. Seems to be really Ignored.(not moaning or being critical, It’s just that to me, It’s a huge subject hole).
Jonathan, maybe you could send in a piece on the PLAN’s equipment building frenzy ?