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Swedish Aircraft Equipped With AI ‘Centaur’ Executes Combat Maneuvers Without Human Intervention in BVR Environment; Tests Integrate the Swedish Military Project ‘Project Beyond’
On May 28, 2025, the Swedish manufacturer Saab successfully completed the first test flight of the Gripen E fighter jet integrated with the Centaur artificial intelligence system, developed in partnership with the company Helsing. The model, already operated by the Brazilian Air Force, performed three autonomous flights, including beyond visual range (BVR) combat simulations, marking an unprecedented operational advancement in the air defense sector.
During the trials, the Centaur system took full control of the aircraft and executed complex tactical maneuvers independently. The pilot intervened only at the moment of firing, validating the AI’s behavior in a simulated air combat scenario with real-time data. This action is part of the Swedish program “Project Beyond,” aimed at the reliable incorporation of artificial intelligence into next-generation military systems.
“In Project Beyond and in other programs, we utilize the power of software to quickly explore and blur the lines between the ‘now’ and the future; in software, there are no generations, only speed,” says Peter Nilsson, Head of Advanced Programs, Aerospace Business Area at Saab.
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Centaur Makes Combat Decisions and Executes Maneuvers in Real Time
The third flight mission, conducted on June 3, specifically tested the performance of Centaur against a real Gripen D fighter in dynamic simulations with multiple parameters. Technicians varied distances, speeds, attack angles, and even disabled command and control connections to assess the AI’s resilience.
Centaur processed sensor data, tracked targets, and adjusted its strategy according to the combat environment. The Gripen E’s architecture allows advanced software to run directly on the aircraft, without the need for prototypes or experimental aircraft, speeding up testing and update cycles.
System May Be Applied to Already Operational Models in Brazil
According to Saab, the success of the Centaur system integration demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be deployed rapidly without compromising security requirements. Additionally, it confirms the software flexibility of the Gripen E, which allows for modular updates without impacting operational performance.
This information was disclosed by Saab in an official statement and detailed on the company’s institutional website on June 11, 2025. The project is fully funded by the Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV) and is part of the Swedish next-generation fighter development program.
