Man and Machine: Sweden’s Gripen Fighter Just Took a Leap Into the Future

Imagine you’re cruising above the Baltic Sea in a state-of-the-art fighter jet, and the one making the combat calls… isn’t you. That’s exactly what happened recently with Saab’s Gripen E—except this wasn’t some science fiction flick.

It was real, and the AI flying shotgun goes by the name Centaur.

Not Just a Fancy Co-Pilot

In late May, Saab and German AI firm Helsing strapped Centaur into the Gripen E cockpit—not physically, of course, but deep into its brain—and ran three test flights that rewrote what’s possible.

For the first time, an artificial intelligence agent took over long-range flight decisions in a real combat jet. It recommended simulated missile shots, dodged imaginary threats, and even went head-to-head (virtually) against another crewed Gripen.

And get this—before it ever left the ground, Centaur trained against itself in a simulator environment, clocking the equivalent of 50 years of pilot experience in just hours!

Plug and Play, Warfighter Style

One of the standout features? The Gripen E didn’t need a complete makeover to accept its new AI wingman. Thanks to its open-architecture avionics, engineers plugged Centaur in without tearing up the wiring.

Saab’s people are proud of how fast it came together—six months from start to flight—and they’re just getting warmed up. More tests are on the way this year, and future trials could include two AI-driven Gripens squaring off against two human-piloted jets. Now that’s a match worth watching!

So Who’s Really Flying?

Despite all the brainy tech, Saab insists the pilot is still in charge—“the commander,” they say. But let’s be honest: when your co-pilot thinks in microseconds and never blinks, you start wondering who’s really calling the shots.

Even Saab’s own test pilot admitted that AI is catching up fast, and pretty soon, it might be outpacing even the best human stick jockeys.

More Than Just Cool Tech

This isn’t just about fancy gadgets or bragging rights. Sweden’s military is banking on AI like Centaur to give them an edge in a world where their air force may have to stand toe-to-toe with much bigger players. BVR (beyond visual range) combat—the high-speed chess match of modern aerial warfare—is where Centaur shines.

And Sweden isn’t alone. The U.S. is running similar programs, flying AI-enhanced F-16s and prepping autonomous drones under Project VENOM and NGAD. But unlike America’s test jets, Gripen E is ready to do this off the shelf—no secret hangars required.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t the death of the fighter pilot. Not yet. But it is the birth of something new: a future where humans and AI fight side by side, each doing what they do best.

And whether you’re a veteran or just someone who grew up watching Top Gun, it’s hard not to get a little fired up watching the next generation take flight—machine brains and all.