In a leap forward for military aviation, Sweden’s Saab, part of its ambitious Project Beyond, has successfully flown its Gripen E fighter jet with an AI agent in the cockpit, not in a simulator, but in live airspace, performing real combat maneuvers.
In collaboration with defense AI firm Helsing, Saab integrated an autonomous system named Centaur directly into the operational Gripen E, a significant move away from simulated or experimental testing. This advanced AI agent wasn’t just running diagnostics or supporting from the sidelines. It took full control of the aircraft, executing Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missions, complex air combat scenarios that usually require lightning-fast human decision-making.
The first of these historic test flights occurred on May 28, followed by two more in early June. What makes this achievement remarkable is the use of a frontline combat aircraft, not a prototype or test platform. Gripen E handed over flight responsibilities to Centaur, which autonomously navigated the challenges of air combat and guided the onboard pilot in real time.
“This is an important achievement for Saab, demonstrating our qualitative edge in sophisticated technologies by making AI deliver in the air,” said Peter Nilsson, head of Advanced Programs at Saab’s Aeronautics Business Area.
Nilsson emphasized the edge Gripen E brings by blending cutting-edge AI with real-world agility. Thanks to the aircraft’s flexible and modular architecture, complex software like Centaur can be seamlessly integrated without major redesigns or compromising safety, a capability rare among modern fighters.
“Within Project Beyond and other programs, we utilize the power of software to rapidly explore and blur the lines between ‘now’ and the future; in software, there are no generations, only speed,” Nilsson added.
The third and most intense trial, conducted on June 3, put Centaur to the test against a real Gripen D aircraft in a dynamic BVR engagement. The AI relied on live sensor data and adjusted to unpredictable changes, such as varied starting positions and speeds. The team even simulated communication loss mid-flight to test Centaur’s ability to adapt and operate under pressure, a scenario designed to mirror battlefield uncertainty.
These trials are part of a broader initiative supported by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), falling under Sweden’s Concept program for next-gen fighter capabilities. The collected flight data is now under analysis, and Saab plans to conduct more test missions throughout the year to continue refining Centaur’s battlefield performance.
This accomplishment comes on the heels of a similar feat by the U.S. Air Force, whose AI-piloted X-62A VISTA jet took flight in 2023 with then-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on board, underscoring a global race toward operational AI in combat aviation.
“We are excited to continue developing and refining how this and other AI agents can be used, while once again showing how our fighters will outperform faster than the opponent can evolve,” Nilsson concluded.
