Saab Achieves AI milestone with Gripen E

Saab, in partnership with Helsing, has announced the successful completion of the initial three flights that integrated Helsing’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent, 'Centaur', into a Gripen E fighter jet. Conducted under Saab’s 'Project Beyond', these flights, beginning with the inaugural flight on May 28, represent a significant advancement in incorporating AI capabilities into military aircraft. This achievement further demonstrates the Gripen E's exceptional capability to swiftly update software while maintaining stringent safety standards.

During the flights, the Gripen E transferred control to Centaur, which autonomously executed complex manoeuvres in a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat environment and provided cues for the pilot to fire.

“This is an important achievement for Saab, demonstrating our qualitative edge in sophisticated technologies by making AI deliver in the air. 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,” said Peter Nilsson, head of Advanced Programmes, from Saab’s Aeronautics Business Area.

Due to the innovative design of the Gripen E, the fighter aircraft is capable of operating with integrated AI software without being limited to military test ranges or dependent on an experimental X-plane for conducting flight trials with the software.

“Within Project Beyond and other programmes, we utilise the power of software to rapidly explore and blur the lines between 'now' and the future; in software, there are no generations, only speed,” says Peter Nilsson.

The third flight, conducted on June 3, was dedicated to evaluating Centaur's performance by comparing it with a real Gripen D aircraft in a series of dynamic Beyond Visual Range (BVR) scenarios. This involved real-time data integration using sensor data to track the target aircraft. The team assessed Centaur's adaptability by altering starting distances, speeds, and orientations, and even by disabling Command and Control (C2) data to evaluate its robustness.

Saab’s and Helsing’s joint Project Beyond team was set up using Gripen E to explore how trustworthy AI can be used against future threats. The team will now analyse the flight data and continue training the AI agent to further enhance its BVR capabilities, with a further series of flights throughout the remainder of the year.

The project, fully sponsored by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), is part of the Swedish Concept programme for Future Fighter Systems.