What Happened
Autonomous Aircraft To Revolutionize Medical Transport In Austere Environments
The US military is set to test an autonomous Cessna Caravan for casualty evacuation in Morocco, with Boston-based Merlin receiving a $500,000 contract from US Africa Command. The demonstration, planned for early 2027, will showcase the aircraft’s ability to conduct autonomous departure, flight, and landing, as well as simulate patient loading and unloading. Merlin’s autonomous software, Merlin Pilot, is designed to manage flight planning, navigation, and contingency response without relying on a remote ground station or flight crew. The project is part of AFRICOM’s Autonomous CASEVAC Industry Technology Challenge, which seeks to accelerate access to advanced medical care while reducing personnel risk. This development was first reported by AeroTime.