Overview
- Merlin announced the completion of the Critical Design Review for its C-130J autonomy program on Thursday, saying the review validates the system’s design readiness.
- The company says the CDR moves the effort out of design development and into aircraft integration activities that will support ground tests and a formal flight test campaign.
- The work is being done under an IDIQ contract with U.S. Special Operations Command that Merlin reports has a total ceiling value above $100 million.
- Merlin said the program aims to deliver an AI-powered autonomy stack to reduce crew workload across all phases of C-130J flight from takeoff to touchdown.
- Investors reacted sharply to the announcement with a roughly 30% after-hours surge in MRLN shares, and analysts including TD Cowen began coverage with positive notes as Merlin progresses from its March SPAC listing toward hardware testing.