Saab Successfully Tests AI-Controlled Gripen E Fighter Against Human Pilot in Groundbreaking Air Combat Trials

In a major leap forward for the future of air combat, Swedish defense company Saab has announced the successful testing of an artificial intelligence (AI)-controlled Gripen E fighter jet in real Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air combat scenarios. The tests, conducted between May 28 and June 3, 2025, in Swedish civilian airspace, are part of a bold experimental initiative known as Project Beyond.

At the core of these trials is a cutting-edge AI system called Centaur, developed by German tech firm Helsing, which was integrated directly into the avionics of the Gripen E. The project is fully funded by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) under a wider national effort to shape the country’s future fighter capabilities.

For the first time ever, an operational frontline fighter jet flown by AI faced off against a human-piloted aircraft in real-time, live BVR engagements. During one of the most advanced sorties, the AI-controlled Gripen E engaged a Gripen D piloted by a Swedish Air Force test pilot. These trials weren’t simulations—they took place in real airspace using real aircraft, making it a historic milestone for both aviation and military AI systems.

The tests were far from basic. Saab and Helsing designed complex conditions to push the AI’s capabilities. They altered distances, speeds, and angles of engagement, and even turned off command-and-control (C2) links in some runs to test Centaur’s resilience. The AI was able to autonomously identify, track, and respond to threats using onboard sensors, executing intelligent tactical manoeuvres without any external commands. According to Saab, the system even cued the human pilot on when to fire in cooperative engagements.

The key to making this AI integration work lies in the unique architecture of the Gripen E. Unlike traditional fighter jets, the Gripen’s software is modular—its critical flight control systems are separate from the mission-specific software. This allowed Centaur to be embedded into the system without compromising flight safety. As a result, testing and modifying the AI software became faster and more flexible, avoiding the long development timelines usually associated with military aircraft upgrades.

Helsing's Centaur AI has been trained using reinforcement learning, where the system simulates dogfights against itself in high-speed simulations running thousands of scenarios simultaneously. It achieved what would equate to 50 years of flying experience in just a few hours. In total, the system has accumulated over 500,000 hours of virtual combat training, enabling it to generate creative, non-traditional tactics—such as feint missile launches followed by surprise re-engagements—much like experienced human pilots.

One of the flights was personally overseen by Marcus Wandt, Saab’s Chief Innovation Officer and a former fighter pilot. He activated Centaur mid-flight and described the AI’s performance as both disciplined and innovative. It operated within all aircraft limits and even pulled off aggressive tactics with precision. Wandt noted that the gap between AI and human pilots is narrowing rapidly and that future air forces will need new doctrines to adapt to this evolving landscape.

Project Beyond is part of Sweden’s broader Krigsberedskapens framtida system (KFS), a study into future combat readiness. The Swedish government is expected to decide by 2031 whether to invest in a new indigenous fighter program—potentially a hybrid of manned and unmanned aircraft. Though Saab was once involved in the UK-led Tempest program, the company has shifted its focus back home, emphasizing software-defined warfare and national autonomy in defense tech.

Looking ahead, Saab and Helsing plan more test flights throughout 2025. These will include increasingly complex scenarios such as multi-aircraft coordination, with the AI potentially facing off against multiple human pilots at once. They are also exploring applications beyond air-to-air combat, including electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and fully autonomous operations.

Saab insists that AI is being developed to support human pilots, not replace them. All critical decisions remain under human control in line with Western ethical standards. But the rapid pace of software-driven development, as demonstrated by Centaur, is redefining how modern fighter jets evolve. With fast update cycles, agile integration, and growing AI capability, Saab envisions a future where software agility becomes more important than traditional generational labels like “fifth-gen” or “sixth-gen” fighters.

The success of Project Beyond shows how AI could soon become a trusted teammate in the cockpit—not only in Sweden but across allied air forces seeking next-generation combat advantage.