Saab has successfully flown proprietary artificial intelligence agents aboard its Gripen E fighter jet, demonstrating autonomous aircraft control during beyond-visual-range combat trials.
The tests mark a significant step toward integrating AI decision-making into operational combat aircraft, potentially accelerating the development of autonomous military aviation.
Developed internally by Saab’s Advanced Programs division, the agents use multiple AI techniques to evaluate tactical situations, adapt to changing conditions and support combat decisions.
During flight trials, an AI agent autonomously controlled Gripen E in simulated combat scenarios conducted under real flight conditions, validating capabilities previously developed through extensive simulation.
Saab’s AI Fighter Pilot Academy provides the training infrastructure, allowing agents to accumulate millions of simulated flight hours while evaluating tactical decisions across complex operational environments.
Unlike conventional development programs requiring dedicated experimental aircraft, Gripen E’s software-defined architecture allows AI applications to be integrated directly into an operational fighter platform.
Saab says this approach shortens development cycles while maintaining control over software verification, safety and operational performance.
The company is also leveraging Sferical AI, a Swedish sovereign computing initiative providing secure infrastructure for advanced AI development.
Peter Nilsson, Saab’s head of Advanced Programs, said future air combat would depend increasingly on coordinated networks of crewed and uncrewed aircraft rather than individual platforms.
The company is expanding flight trials to additional scenarios while developing agents capable of supporting pilots or operating independently aboard unmanned aircraft.
The development highlights growing competition to deploy trusted autonomous capabilities across next-generation military aviation systems worldwide.
