The US Air Force has chosen Raytheon’s PhantomStrike radar to equip its X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), marking a significant step in advancing autonomous and AI-enabled flight experimentation. PhantomStrike is a lightweight, air-cooled AESA radar built using gallium nitride technology, enabling reduced size, weight, and power requirements compared to conventional fire-control radars. Weighing less than 150 pounds, the system is optimized for uncrewed aircraft, light-attack platforms, and rotary-wing assets. The radar’s digital beamforming architecture allows it to simultaneously manage air-to-air and air-to-ground missions while maintaining affordability. PhantomStrike completed its first flight test in May, validating its readiness for operational experimentation. The radar will support the X-62A VISTA, a modified F-16D developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Calspan for the USAF Test Pilot School. The aircraft serves as a hybrid platform for AI autonomy trials, featuring open-architecture avionics and machine-learning integration. Future upgrades planned for 2025 aim to push the aircraft into increasingly complex operational scenarios, testing AI decision-making, collaboration, and real-time adaptability in contested environments.
