US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has awarded Boston-based autonomous aviation technology company Merlin a US$500,000 contract to demonstrate an autonomous casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) mission using a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Morocco, with the trial planned for early US fiscal year 2027. The demonstration will test the aircraft’s Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system through the complete mission sequence, including flight planning, departure, navigation to a remote casualty collection site, simulated patient loading and autonomous return and landing. The system is designed to manage navigation, hazard avoidance, contingency responses and air traffic control communications without relying on a remote ground station, while continuing an authorised flight plan if communications are lost. The Caravan’s large cargo door and flat cabin floor will facilitate stretcher loading, with an onboard medical module providing oxygen, electrical power and patient-monitoring equipment. The initiative seeks to address casualty evacuation challenges across remote or contested environments while reducing risks to medical and flight crews. Merlin is also considering a twin-engine King Air variant for…
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