Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan

Branch will test and deploy a Cessna Caravan equipped with Reliable Robotics’ autonomy system.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 01:55 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with Reliable’s aircraft autonomy system takes part in Air Force exercises in 2024. [Courtesy: Reliable Robotics]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is deploying automated Cessna 208B Grand Caravans, equipped with Reliable Robotics' autonomy system, for real-world overseas logistics and airlift missions.
This $17.4 million contract aims to boost operational efficiency and reduce costs, especially in pilot-stretched regions like the Indo-Pacific, by leveraging the military airworthiness-approved autonomous flight capability.
Reliable Robotics' "aircraft agnostic" system enables autonomous taxi, takeoff, en route flight, and landing, with the company also pursuing commercial certification for its technology.

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The U.S. military is planning to send an automated Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on real-world, overseas deployments.

The U.S. Air Force signed a $17.4 million contract that includes the purchase of Reliable Robotics’ aircraft autonomy system, the company announced Tuesday. The agreement covers integration, testing, and operational missions aboard the popular single-engine turboprop, which Reliable flew without a pilot on board for the first time in 2023.