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 are partnering to develop an "autonomy core" system for civil and military aircraft, aiming to enable reduced-crew, single-pilot, and fully-autonomous flight capabilities.
The initiative combines Merlin's AI-powered Pilot autonomy software with GE's flight management system expertise, with initial deployment targeting the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet.
This collaboration seeks to accelerate the integration of advanced autonomous solutions across various platforms, leveraging GE's extensive installed base, and aligns with the military's growing demand for autonomous aviation systems.

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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.