A new, 19-month contract expands on Merlin’s existing work with the U.S. Air Force to automate the controls on the KC-135 Stratotanker. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. Air Force has contracted Merlin Labs to develop and integrate advanced autonomous flight technology into its tanker fleet, starting with the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The primary goal is to enable self-flying tankers to dynamically re-plan missions such as aerial refueling, reduce pilot workload, facilitate extended-crew operations, and eventually allow for fully uncrewed missions.
Merlin Labs' "Merlin Pilot" system will provide platform-agnostic flight autonomy and AI-powered mission capabilities, with in-flight demonstrations and FAA certification efforts underway for broader integration across USAF aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force is exploring the use of self-flying tankers for aerial refueling and other missions under a new contract.
Boston-based Merlin Labs is the beneficiary of the 19-month, undisclosed value contract—first reported by FLYING—that aims to give current and future American tankers the ability to adapt missions on the fly without human intervention.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
