Saab and German startup Helsing have completed the first three test flights of its Gripen E fighter jet with Helsing’s artificial intelligence agent Centaur. The trials are part of Saab’s Project Beyond and mark a significant step toward integrating AI in air combat.
The three flights, conducted between May 28 and June 3, examined the AI’s ability to execute complex beyond-visual-range maneuvers, culminating in live scenarios against a Gripen D adversary. Saab said the trials tested Centaur’s performance under shifting mission parameters and without essential data.
According to Helsing’s website, the Centaur agent is trained using a scaled reinforcement learning approach, achieving more than 500,000 flight hours to match human-level air combat performance. It is capable of advanced engagement tactics, evasive maneuvers and creative decision-making.
“The swift integration and successful flight testing of Helsing’s AI in a Gripen E exemplifies the accelerated capability gain you can get from our fighter,” said Peter Nilsson, head of advanced programs under Saab’s aeronautics business. “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.”
The development team, which has begun analyzing the flight data, will continue training Centaur for additional test flights later this year to improve its BVR capabilities.
The Centaur trials follow Saab’s other collaborations in multi-domain and training solutions. Earlier this month, it partnered with Maxar Intelligence to develop space-based intelligence technologies, including drone systems with enhanced digital and GPS resilience. The company has also agreed to co-develop submarine training tools with CAE for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet.