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Merlin Awarded Contract for U.S. Africa Command Autonomous Casualty Evacuation Technology Challenge

MRLN
  • Merlin, Inc. has secured a $500,000 U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) contract to demonstrate its Merlin Pilot autonomous operating system for an initial phase of the Autonomous Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) Industry Technology Challenge.
  • The planned demonstration is scheduled for early U.S. government fiscal year 2027 in Morocco & will involve a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan executing a full mission from tasking & flight planning to autonomous departure, enroute flight, casualty collection, & return landing.
  • The mission aims to address security threats & vast distances in AFRICOM's area of responsibility by providing a solution that does not rely on persistent command-and-control links or onboard flight crew.
  • Merlin Pilot's system features onboard autonomy for dynamic route replanning, natural language processing for air traffic control communication, & the ability to continue missions safely if communications are lost.
  • The Cessna 208B aircraft is configured with a large cargo door for ground-level litter loading & an air ambulance medical module providing oxygen, power, & patient monitoring mounts.
  • Merlin CEO Matt George stated that onboard autonomy can overcome communication & distance constraints to ensure faster, safer transport of wounded personnel to surgical care.
  • The company plans a follow-on path to operational scale using a King Air variant, which would offer twin-engine redundancy, greater payload capacity, & space for multiple patients & medical staff.
  • This work builds on Merlin's existing Department of War autonomy programs, including its C-130J initiative with U.S. Special Operations Command, which holds over $100M in IDIQ contract ceiling value.
  • Merlin Pilot has completed hundreds of autonomous flights across various fixed-wing aircraft, including a recent demonstration at Alliance Airport witnessed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy & Senator Ted Cruz.
  • The press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the timing & scope of the demonstration, potential expansion with AFRICOM, & future applications across other combatant commands & civil operators.
Company
Merlin Labs, Inc.
Keywords
Nasdaq:MRLN, Merlin Labs, Inc.