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Company Supplying Drones to Ukraine Is Now Powering Europe’s First AI Fighter Jets
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Europe is moving closer to deploying uncrewed fighter jets, with the defense start-up Helsing announcing that its artificial intelligence software successfully controlled a Saab Gripen E aircraft in recent test flights.
According to The Financial Times on July 10, the software took command of the jet during two flights over the Baltic Sea in May and June, while a human pilot was present only as an observer.
Helsing, the same company currently supplying drones and AI software to Ukraine, described the tests as a major step toward integrating autonomous systems into air combat.
The company’s Centaur AI system reportedly achieved the equivalent of one million flight hours in just 72 hours—far beyond the 5,000-hour career average of a human fighter pilot.
Helsing representatives say the adoption of this technology by European air forces could happen within years rather than decades.
The company envisions a gradual transition: initially, pilots will work alongside AI to assist in complex maneuvers and threat detection. Over time, the role of human operators is expected to shift away from the cockpit—similar to the evolution of drone warfare.
Helsing is actively contributing to Ukraine’s defense. The company has agreements to supply up to 10,000 drones to Ukrainian forces.
It recently launched testing of its HX-2 strike drone, a new model developed after frontline criticism of the earlier HF-1 design. The HX-2 features upgraded capabilities and is currently being evaluated under battlefield conditions in Ukraine.
Following Ukraine’s use of Helsing’s drones, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have begun testing the HX-2 model for their own militaries. The system’s performance in combat has prompted broader European interest in AI-powered drone warfare and accelerated efforts to develop domestic production capacity.
Founded in 2021, Helsing has expanded from an AI software developer into a major player in Europe’s defense sector. Backed by approximately $702 million in funding led by Spotify founder Daniel Ek, the company is now valued at about $14.05 billion.
It maintains offices in Berlin, Munich, London, and Paris, presenting itself as a pan-European company amid growing efforts to reduce dependence on non-European defense suppliers.
While the company emphasizes that human operators remain central to decision-making in lethal operations, it acknowledges that full-scale conflicts with peer adversaries may shift the boundaries of autonomy.
At the same time, Helsing has reiterated that in environments such as Ukraine, where military targets are located near civilian infrastructure, the final decision must rest with a human.
