The U.S. Air Force has achieved its first in-air human-on-the-loop autonomy test with an F-16C equipped with DARPA’s VENOM Autonomy Kit, marking the shift from ground modifications to real-time AI flight control on an operational fighter platform. Conducted at Eglin Air Force Base in July 2026, the test used an AI agent to fly the aircraft while a pilot remained onboard to oversee and override autonomy instantly. Six F-16Cs are being modified under the VENOM-AFT program to serve as autonomous flying testbeds, accelerating software validation for Collaborative Combat Aircraft and legacy fleet integration without full redesign. This milestone extends ACE program successes from the X-62A VISTA to standard F-16C hardware, establishing VENOM as a cornerstone for next-phase AI development under DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements initiative.