Merlin Labs has completed a preliminary design review (PDR) for an autonomous flight system being developed for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft used by US Special Operations Command. The review confirmed Merlin’s preliminary design for integrating its autonomy stack into the aircraft and validated the proposed airworthiness approach for future demonstrations. The milestone represents an important step toward developing certification-grade autonomous capabilities for military aircraft. Following the successful review, the program will move into the critical design phase over the coming months. A first flight demonstration using a modified C-130J aircraft is expected later this year. The work is part of a broader five-year contract awarded in August 2024 to develop and demonstrate advanced autonomy capabilities for the special operations fleet. The effort is valued at about $104 million and aims to deliver a production-ready aircraft capable of operating with a reduced aircrew. The concept is designed to improve operational flexibility while maintaining safety during demanding special operations missions. After completing the critical design review, the project will advance to system integration and ground testing phases. These steps will be followed by a series of full flight demonstrations covering the entire flight profile from takeoff to landing. Merlin is developing an artificial intelligence-powered autonomy stack that can manage various aspects of flight operations. The technology is expected to eventually support autonomous or semi-autonomous capabilities across a wider range of special operations fixed-wing aircraft. By reducing pilot workload and enabling greater operational flexibility, the system could allow aircraft to perform complex missions more efficiently in contested or high-risk environments.
