Maverick: AI system autonomously pilots fighter jet in first real-world combat test

Swedish defense contractor Saab and German AI company Helsing successfully conducted the first real-world test flights of an AI-powered combat aircraft, with their Centaur AI system taking control of a Gripen-E fighter jet’s long-range maneuvers over the Baltic Sea in late May. The milestone represents a significant advancement in autonomous military aviation, as the AI agent independently managed flight paths, recommended missile targeting, and executed evasive maneuvers during three test flights.

What you should know: The AI system demonstrated autonomous combat capabilities that traditionally require human pilot intervention.

• Helsing’s Centaur AI pilot took control of long-range flight maneuvers from human pilots during the test flights above the Baltic Sea.
• The system recommended missile shots at a Gripen training aircraft from a distance and executed evasive maneuvers to avoid disadvantageous flight paths.
• This marks the first time an AI application has been in charge of real-world combat maneuvering, according to company executives.

How it works: The integration leveraged the Gripen’s modular avionics architecture to rapidly deploy third-party AI capabilities.

• The Gripen-E’s hardware and software separation allowed engineers to integrate Helsing’s Centaur AI pilot in just six months.
• Engineers prepared the AI system by having it compete against itself in a Gripen simulator environment.
• According to Helsing’s calculations, this simulation training produced the equivalent of 50 years of human pilot experience.

The big picture: The successful tests position both companies at the forefront of autonomous military aviation development.

• Johan Segertoft, head of Saab’s Gripen business unit, says the Gripen-E and Centaur combination is market-ready.
• However, additional development work limits current utility to “mature” customers of the jet variant.
• The Swedish government co-funded the experimentation through Project Beyond, a key technology program for charting the country’s next-generation warplane development.

Why this matters: This breakthrough could fundamentally reshape air combat operations and military aviation strategy.

• The successful real-world deployment of AI in combat aircraft represents a major leap beyond simulation-based testing.
• The rapid six-month integration timeline demonstrates how modular aircraft architectures can accelerate AI adoption in military systems.
• Government backing through Project Beyond signals official support for autonomous combat capabilities in future Swedish air force operations.