Saab’s Gripen E fighter jet recently made headlines by demonstrating its ability to collaborate with artificial intelligence during a series of test flights over the Baltic Sea — a breakthrough that signals a dramatic shift in military aviation.
Between May 28 and June 3, 2025, the Swedish manufacturer successfully integrated Helsing’s Centaur AI platform into the Gripen E, allowing the aircraft to carry out complex combat maneuvers in simulated beyond-visual-range (BVR) scenarios alongside a human pilot.
This milestone forms a key piece of Saab’s Project Beyond, which aims to push forward the capabilities of future fighter jets and enable greater synergy between human crews and autonomous technologies — a move that could redefine aerial warfare.
Saab, a renowned manufacturer since its founding in 1937, is recognized for designing adaptable, cost-effective, multirole fighter jets. The Gripen E, its flagship aircraft, exemplifies this approach, with a flexible architecture, advanced electronic warfare suites, and powerful sensors — all powered by a General Electric F414G engine that can reach Mach 2.
This adaptability was a major advantage during the recent trial flights, which saw the Centaur algorithm successfully integrated into the fighter’s control systems without requiring extensive structural modifications or specialized range facilities.
The significance of these demonstrations reaches far beyond pure technical prowess. Rising tensions from Eastern Europe to the Indo-Pacific are fueling heavy investment in new defense technologies, and the ability to combine human judgment with machine-assisted decision-making may become a decisive factor in future combat operations.
Peter Nilsson, head of advanced programs at Saab’s Aeronautics division, called the breakthrough “a testament to our ability to enable sophisticated technologies to aid human crews in high-risk scenarios.” He stressed that the algorithm can be updated quickly, adding a decisive adaptability as operational conditions evolve.
The Gripen E — a multirole fighter approximately 15.2m in length with a wingspan of 8.6m — is powered by a single F414G engine and is designed for agility, survivability, and ease of maintenance. The aircraft’s AESA radar, electronic warfare suite, and data links enable extensive situational awareness and information sharing with other platforms, a key feature for modern combat operations.
One major advantage of the new platform is its ability to incorporate additional modules and updated software without needing extensive hardware overhauls — a crucial consideration for growing and adapting its capabilities. This adaptability was demonstrated during the trial flights, where Centaur successfully integrated alongside the aircraft’s own sensors and control mechanisms.
Helsing, a German technology firm founded in 2021, brings expertise in developing military applications for artificial intelligence, designing algorithms to aid human crews under high-stakes conditions. The Centaur algorithm is a significant step forward in this regard — analyzing vast amounts of sensor data in real time and offering guidance and control inputs alongside its human counterpart.
During the tests, Centaur successfully maneuvered the aircraft through simulated BVR scenarios — acquiring, assessing, and reacting to potential targets — while retaining a human-on-the-loop to oversee its decisions. The algorithm performed under challenging conditions, including disrupted communications and high operational stress.
The first flight on May 28 marked Centaur’s debut alongside the Gripen E, while subsequent sorties pitted it against a manned Gripen D — its predecessor — in a showdown designed to gauge its capabilities under realistic combat conditions. The algorithm kept up, demonstrating its ability to track targets, respond to changing scenarios, and maintain operational readiness, even when disrupted by electronic interference.
Saab’s collaboration with Helsing forms a key component of Project Beyond, supported by Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in its ongoing efforts to keep its military a step ahead in a rapidly evolving world. The FMV’s role includes evaluating innovations that enable future fighter operations while honoring the country’s policy of neutrality.
This forward-thinking approach resonates with many European air forces, which appreciate the balance between cost, operational flexibility, and high performance. The Gripen E, with its approximate price tag of $85 million per aircraft — significantly less than the F-35 — offers a strong option for those needing advanced capabilities without overloading their budgets.
Current users of the Gripen E, including Brazil (with 36 jets) and Sweden (with 60), may view this as a powerful opportunity to further maximize their operational readiness. Furthermore, the platform’s adaptability makes it a potential candidate for NATO members and other growing air forces in a changing strategic landscape.
Across the globe, the defense industry is experiencing a transformation driven by growing reliance on artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies. The United States’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, for instance, is developing uncrewed aircraft designed to team up with manned platforms — a path paralleled by initiatives like Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat in Australia and BAE’s Taranis in the UK.
Meanwhile, Russia and China are making their own strides toward integrating autonomous technologies into their fighter jets — adding an additional dimension to a growing competition for air superiority. Saab’s approach stands out by retaining a human in the loop while adding sophisticated algorithm-assisted decision-making — a blend many view as a pragmatic way forward.
The recent trial flights were not without technical hurdles, and extensive testing will be needed to guarantee safety, robustness, and operational readiness under all conditions. Nevertheless, the ability to deploy an AI-assisted fighter without requiring extensive platform-specific modifications highlights its adaptability — a key consideration for future sales and operational interoperability.
Saab’s collaboration with Helsing underscores the growing role of European innovators in a landscape often dominated by large U.S. firms. This reflects a policy of retaining European strategic independence while strengthening its own defense industry through high-tech innovations.
Saab’s financial performance — with annual revenue of roughly $4.5 billion and its Aeronautics division delivering nearly half — underscores the significance of innovations like Centaur for securing future growth. Rising defense budgets across Eastern Europe, alongside growing interest from Brazil, South Africa, and Thailand, may create further opportunities for sales and export.
The debut of Centaur in the Gripen E also brings up complex policy questions related to human oversight, control, and the ethics of employing algorithm-assisted combat operations — a delicate balance that regulators and military planners will need to address in the years ahead.
Saab and Helsing have made clear that the algorithm operates under human oversight — retaining a pilot in command — but the potential for fully autonomous operations will remain a matter for policy, legislation, and international dialogue.
Looking forward, additional test flights are planned to further validate and fine-tune Centaur’s performance under realistic conditions, with an emphasis on growing its capabilities in electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and complex combat scenarios.
Sweden’s FMV, meanwhile, is poised to provide continued funding and oversight, ensuring that innovations stemming from Project Beyond align with its strategic priorities. Furthermore, growing collaboration with European industry — possibly through initiatives like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) — may enable further synergy and cost-sharing.
The gripen E’s debut alongside Centaur signals a major step forward in integrating human judgment and algorithm-assisted operations — a hybrid approach that many see as the future of air combat.
This breakthrough underscores the growing competition in the defense industry, where European innovators are challenging longstanding U.S. domination with their own sophisticated technologies. At the intersection of human creativity and algorithmic power, the future of aerial combat is beginning to take shape — a future in which the best outcomes may come from a combination of both.
