Acceptance of the "airworthiness plan" allows the KC-135 autonomous flight test program to get underway, Merlin said. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. Air Force has approved autonomous flight developer Merlin's plan to integrate its "Merlin Pilot" AI-driven robotic flight system into the KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.
Flight testing of the AI pilot in the KC-135s is scheduled to commence in 2025, aiming to introduce reduced crew capabilities and enhance efficiency in military aviation.
This acceptance of Merlin's airworthiness plan demonstrates the system's compliance with USAF standards, allowing progression towards aircraft integration, design completion, and testing operations.
The U.S. Air Force has signed off on a plan to put AI in the left seat of its KC-135 tanker fleet.
Autonomous flight developer Merlin announced it will begin flying the converted Boeing 707s, among the oldest airframes in the fleet, with Merlin Pilot, an AI-driven robotic flight system, in 2025.
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Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
