GE Aerospace, Merlin Join Forces on Autonomy

Partners are targeting the Air Force’s Center Console Refresh program for the first integration of their combined system.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

GE Aerospace’s flight management systems are installed on more than 14,000 aircraft, which are now candidates to be equipped with Merlin’s Pilot autonomy platform. [Courtesy: GE Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Merlin Labs and GE Aerospace have partnered to develop an "autonomy core" for civil and military aircraft.
This system is designed to enable reduced-crew, single-pilot, and fully autonomous flight capabilities, initially targeting the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet and later expanding to other aircraft.
The collaboration leverages Merlin's AI-powered autonomy software, capable of decision-making, ATC communication, and emergency handling, combined with GE's flight management system expertise to accelerate deployment.

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Autonomous flight system developer Merlin Labs is joining forces with GE Aerospace to equip civil and military aircraft with reduced-crew, single-pilot, and fully-autonomous uncrewed capabilities.

Merlin and GE on Tuesday announced their team-up to develop an “autonomy core”—a certifiable autonomy and pilot-assist platform designed to reduce crews. The partners are targeting the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 Center Console Refresh (CCR) effort for the first integration of the system. Later, they will expand to tankers and turboprops used for refueling, transport, and civil aviation missions.