In a major step towards AI-powered aerial warfare, Swedish aerospace and defence major Saab, in collaboration with German defence technology company Helsing, pitted an Artificial Intelligence-controlled Gripen E fighter jet against a real Gripen D aircraft in a series of dynamic BVR (beyond-visual-range) scenarios.
Helsing’s AI agent ‘Centaur’ was integrated into a Gripen E multirole fighter jet, marking a major advance in bringing AI capabilities to military aircraft.
During the flights, the control of the aircraft was given to the AI agent, which successfully autonomously executed complex manoeuvres in BVR combat scenarios and cued the pilot to fire.
The first flight under this joint initiative—Project Beyond—was carried out on May 28.
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The third flight on June 3 focused specifically on Centaur’s performance, pitting it against a real Gripen D aircraft in a series of dynamic BVR scenarios with real-time data integration utilising sensor data to track the target aircraft, Saab said.
The adaptability of the AI agent was tested during the trials by varying starting distances, speeds, aspects, and even disabling C2 data.
According to a Reuters report, this is the first publicly known instance of AI being tested in a fighter jet beyond visual range.
Calling this an important achievement from Saab, the company's head of Advanced Programmes Peter Nilsson said, "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. 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.”
Saab and Helsing will now analyze flight data and continue to train the AI agent. More test flights are planned for later this year, focusing on further enhancing its BVR and real-time combat performance.
