U.S. Air Force To Test Single-Pilot C-130 Flight Crews

The U.S. Air Force has partnered with Merlin Labs to flight test a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules using an autonomous co-pilot.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, August 04, 2022 at 05:48 PM ET

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A HC-130J Combat King takes off from the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Georgia. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is partnering with Merlin Labs to integrate autonomous flight technology into C-130J Hercules aircraft, aiming to reduce the crew size from two pilots to one.
This initiative is a direct response to a widespread and growing pilot shortage within the military, seeking to enhance operational readiness by leveraging advanced technology.
Merlin Labs' system utilizes software and sensors to control aircraft and can respond to verbal instructions from air traffic control, representing a significant step towards practical cockpit autonomy.
The C-130J project is part of a broader strategy by defense officials to explore autonomous and reduced-crew operations across various aircraft types to address personnel shortfalls and prepare for future conflicts.

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Can a Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) C-130J Hercules fly with just one pilot? It’s a scenario the U.S. Air Force is exploring through a new partnership with Merlin Labs, a Boston-based autonomous flight company that’s gearing up to test autonomous operations in the Air Force’s venerable cargo workhorse.

Under the collaboration, Merlin Labs will retrofit a C-130 with software and technology that will slim down the number of onboard crew, from two pilots to one. The C-130, built at Lockheed Martin’s factory in Marietta, Georgia, holds the record for the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft, according to the manufacturer. The Hercules first flew in 1954.