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 collaborating with Merlin Labs to integrate autonomous flight technology into C-130J Hercules aircraft, aiming to reduce the crew requirement from two pilots to one.
This partnership is a direct response to a significant global pilot shortage, leveraging advanced software and hardware to enhance flight safety and operational readiness.
The initiative is part of a broader military trend to explore and adopt autonomous systems, as seen in pilotless Black Hawk flights and discussions around single-pilot operations for KC-46 tankers, all driven by the need to innovate amid personnel challenges.

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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.