Saab has conducted a series of flight tests integrating an artificial intelligence (AI) agent into its Gripen E multirole fighter aircraft, marking a new step in the company’s ongoing exploration of advanced digital combat technologies. The flights were part of “Project Beyond”, a joint initiative between Saab and the German AI defense company Helsing, and were supported by Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) under the broader Future Fighter Systems framework.
The tests, which included three flights between May 28 and June 3, involved the AI agent—called Centaur—taking partial control of the Gripen E during simulated Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements. In these scenarios, the AI autonomously performed maneuvering and target tracking, and provided the pilot with firing cues.According to Saab, the tests demonstrate the Gripen E’s capacity to host and evaluate advanced software-driven capabilities without relying on specialized test aircraft or restricted airspace. The Gripen E's existing architecture allowed for full integration of the AI system within its operational flight software.
The third test flight, held on June 3, involved a live BVR engagement between the AI-equipped Gripen E and a manned Gripen D aircraft. Saab reports that the test assessed the AI’s decision-making in real time using onboard sensors to track a moving target, with conditions such as speed, approach angles, and communications links varied to evaluate the AI's adaptability and robustness.
While specifics on the AI’s performance were not disclosed, Saab and Helsing noted that further analysis is underway, with additional test flights planned for the remainder of the year. The focus will be on refining the AI’s combat performance and integrating it into broader air combat systems.
Project Beyond aims to explore the operational viability of integrating trusted AI systems into frontline fighter aircraft. Unlike many experimental platforms limited to lab settings or conceptual frameworks, the project leverages existing operational hardware to examine near-term applications of AI in contested airspace.