US Africa Command (AFRICOM) will test autonomous casualty evacuation in Morocco early in the 2027 fiscal year, using a Cessna Grand Caravan flown by Merlin's AI pilot system, SSBülten reports. The test is meant to show that an optionally piloted or uncrewed aircraft can fly wounded personnel out of remote areas within the "golden hour".
Under a $500,000 contract, Merlin will integrate its Merlin Pilot autonomy package into a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. The system is to handle the whole mission, from planning and autonomous take-off to the flight, a simulated patient loading on a basic runway and the landing back. The aircraft will be tested as an air ambulance with a medical module and a bed.
Merlin says the same design could be extended to King Air variants, adding twin-engine redundancy and room for several casualties. The company also recently won an $8.9 million deal for C-130 autonomy work for US Special Operations Command.
Also reported by The War Zone, eVTOL Insights, LAE Times, Yabiladi and Infodefensa
Background
Merlin Pilot
Aircraft autonomy system
Merlin's autonomy system for the C-130J Super Hercules, aimed at reducing crew workload.
More stories about Merlin Pilot
Merlin
Aviation autonomy company
US aviation autonomy company developing the Merlin Pilot system for the C-130J under a US Special Operations Command programme.
