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 autonomous flight systems (Merlin Pilot) into its tanker fleet, beginning with the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The goal is to automate complex missions like aerial refueling, humanitarian air drops, and ISR, enabling dynamic re-planning, reducing pilot workload, and eventually facilitating extended-crew or uncrewed operations.
Merlin Pilot is a platform-agnostic, AI-powered system providing "takeoff-to-touchdown" autonomy, with ongoing work toward FAA certification and broader integration across various military and commercial 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.
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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.
