The companies said on Wednesday, in a step forward in European efforts to compete on autonomy in defence.

Last week's trial is the first publicly known instance of artificial intelligence being tested in a warplane beyond visual range (BVR) rather than in a close-range dogfight, or that AI has controlled a fully fledged jet rather than a test plane.

In May last year, then-United States Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew in a modified F-16 called X-62A VISTA fitted with machine learning supplied by Shield AI to demonstrate the ability of AI to enter aerial battle with a crewed F-16.

The European trials, known as "Project Beyond", included three flights carried out between May 28 and June 3, the last of which pitted Helsing's "Centaur" AI agent piloting a Gripen E against a human-operated Gripen D fighter jet, the companies said.

Funded by the Swedish government, the trial was inconclusive on whether the human Top Gun or the AI-powered foe performed better, but the trial highlights an increasing focus on integrating AI and autonomy into combat systems.

--Reuters--