USAF accepts Merlin’s airworthiness plan for KC-135 testing

The United States Air Force (USAF) has accepted Merlin’s airworthiness plan for KC-135 testing using its autonomous technology. 

The joint USAF and Merlin project will evaluate the viability of scaling Merlin’s technology, aka Merlin Pilot, to large transport aircraft. Now Merlin will progress towards aircraft integration, design completion and testing operations.

“We’re building the Merlin Pilot to not just meet safety standards, but redefine them. Integrating the Merlin Pilot onto one of most important aircraft in the USAF’s fleet is crucial to advancing military aviation into a new era of pilot efficiency and national security, as well as progressing autonomy at scale,” said Matt George, CEO and founder at Merlin. “This is an important milestone for both Merlin and the USAF as we continue to build the Merlin Pilot to exceed the military’s operational needs.”

The news comes on the heels of Merlin’s collaboration with Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) to design, integrate, test and demonstrate aspects of the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135. As the first major milestone executed under this collaboration, it lays the groundwork for the Merlin Pilot’s certification basis and eventual military flight release.

Merlin is targeting the end of 2024 for its design completion, with ground testing, flight testing and demonstrations are set to occur in 2025.