Helsing has completed the first of three test flights of a Gripen E fighter jet that is equipped with an AI pilot allowing for autonomous air combat.
The flight, which took place last month above the Baltic Sea, saw the jet relinquish control to an AI pilot system known as Centaur while in the air. A safety pilot was on board to take back control if needed.
The test focused on Centaur’s beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat capabilities, which were tested against a second, human-controlled aircraft.
German defence contractor Helsing said it achieved the maiden flight less than six months after conception due to Gripen E’s modern architecture, which allowed for rapid integration of the AI pilot system. Gripen E planes, made by Swedish aerospace firm Saab, were first introduced in 2016.
Once switched on, Centaur is entrusted with full machine control to conduct combat manoeuvres in a BVR air-to-air combat scenario. It continuously processes native inputs from Gripen onboard sensors to plan...