Reliable awarded multi-year US Air Force contract

Reliable Robotics has been awarded a contract to provide advanced automation to United States Air Force (USAF) airlift and refuelling aircraft. 

The Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract will span multiple years, and advance the development of Reliable’s autonomous flight system. The contract is also a vehicle for AFWERX and Reliable to explore partnerships with other branches of the military.

With a focus on the Indo Pacific, the USAF is looking at technologies like Reliable’s autonomous flight system to enable longer duration operations in contested environments while also upping safety and lowering procurement costs.

Lt Col Josh Fehd, AFWERX Autonomy Prime Branch Chief, said: “Aircraft autonomy is a mission critical capability for the Department of the Air Force. This IDIQ contract is driven by demand from Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces and commands that want to employ advanced aircraft automation in their fleets as soon as possible.”

Reliable has been working with the USAF’s Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX since 2021, and has demonstrated remote piloting during major exercises such as AGILE FLAG. Additionally, the firm has been awarded funding under the AFWERX Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) programme.

Earlier this year, Reliable also delivered a KC-135 Automation Roadmap commissioned by the USAF. The roadmap outlined the validity of Reliable’s technology for use in all phases of a KC-135 air-to-air refuelling operation.

The company has an advanced programme for full aircraft automation with FAA acceptance of its certification plan in 2023, and further certification progress in 2024.

Dr. David O’Brien, Major General (Ret.), and senior vice president of Government Solutions at Reliable, said: “IDIQ contract award signals long-term engagement with the Air Force and provides flexibility for us to further demonstrate our autonomous flight system in operational readiness activities, explore automation of more aircraft and develop production-ready capabilities. 

“In addition to automating the Cessna 208B Caravan and KC-135 Stratotanker, other aircraft like the Cessna 408 and ISR aviation platforms may also be evaluated under this contract.”