Overview
- Merlin announced on November 11–12, 2026 that U.S. Africa Command awarded it $500,000 to support an Autonomous CASEVAC Industry Technology Challenge demonstration in Morocco planned for early U.S. government fiscal year 2027.
- The test will run the full mission from tasking and flight planning through an autonomous departure, flight to a remote casualty collection site, simulated patient loading and an autonomous return and landing.
- Merlin says its Merlin Pilot software plans routes, replans around hazards, can talk to air traffic control in natural language, and is designed to continue a mission if communications are lost, without relying on a persistent ground control link.
- The demonstration will use a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan fitted with an air‑ambulance module that allows ground‑level stretcher loading, but Merlin has not disclosed whether a safety pilot will be aboard for the Morocco flight.
- Analysts note the small award and demonstration scope signal an exploratory, technology‑validation phase for U.S. autonomous CASEVAC work even as Merlin pursues larger contracts such as an $8.9 million SOCOM task order and broader C‑130J and KC‑135 autonomy efforts.