AI-Controlled MQ-20 Avenger Drone Completes Complex Flight with Midair Autonomy Switch

Advancements in military AI and drone technology are rapidly progressing, with several notable developments in 2025 enhancing autonomous capabilities in aerial and ground combat systems. General Atomics' MQ-20 Avenger drone has been successfully tested with dual AI systems, demonstrating complex coordinated tasks, midair station-keeping, and autonomous engagement with live targets, including simulated shoot-downs. DARPA's EVADE program is accelerating the deployment of vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial systems, integrating advanced autonomy to improve warfighter capabilities with rapid development cycles. Saab's Gripen E fighter jet has completed test flights under Project Beyond, showcasing AI-controlled combat maneuvers and human-machine teaming in beyond-visual-range engagements, highlighting resilience even when command-and-control data is withheld. On the ground, the US Army is collaborating with Israeli firm Smart Shooter to integrate AI-guided targeting systems into rifles to counter hostile drones with improved accuracy, while AI-powered automated turrets such as Sky Sentinel are already deployed in Ukraine to autonomously neutralize enemy drones. These innovations collectively reflect a significant shift toward AI-enabled combat systems designed to enhance operational effectiveness and survivability in modern warfare.