AI was installed on the Swedish Gripen fighter jet and it fought against a human

Swedish company Saab has made significant progress in integrating Centaur artificial intelligence from German company Helsing into the JAS 39E Gripen fighter, Defense Express reports. The project, known as Project Beyond, is funded by the Swedish Defense Procurement Agency and does not require large-scale technical modifications - it is enough to update the aircraft's software.

The first flight of the JAS 39E Gripen with the Centaur AI took place on May 28, 2025, and on June 3, in the third test flight, Centaur conducted a training dogfight against a real pilot on a Gripen D fighter. The combat scenarios simulated a real collision at long distances, where the AI received data from sensors in real time, analyzed the situation, and performed complex maneuvers.

Saab does not disclose details of the combat results, but notes that the Centaur demonstrates high adaptability, changing strategies depending on the conditions. The AI also issued commands to the pilot to open fire, indicating the prospect of converting the Gripen E/F into an optionally piloted aircraft.

Importantly, Centaur runs on the standard version of Gripen without significant modifications, allowing for rapid software updates for the entire JAS 39E/F series. In addition, the technology is planned to be integrated into new fighter drones being developed by Saab as part of the F-series project.

Saab and Helsing will continue testing Centaur until the end of the year, working on the first stable version of the software. This will allow for the rapid implementation of AI on all JAS 39E/F Gripen aircraft in the future without complex technical changes.