Merlin Awarded Contract for U.S. Africa Command Autonomous Casualty Evacuation Technology Challenge
Key Highlights
- ➤$500,000 AFRICOM contract funds Merlin’s autonomous CASEVAC demonstration
- ➤Early U.S. government fiscal year 2027 Morocco demonstration will use a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
- ➤Merlin Pilot will execute CASEVAC missions without remote ground station or flight crew
- ➤Merlin cites $100M+ total IDIQ contract ceiling value under its USSOCOM C-130J program
Expert Statements
Matt George, CEO and founder of Merlin
“Casualty evacuation is ultimately about getting wounded noncombatants and service members to surgical care as quickly and safely as possible: a mission made more difficult by long distances and unreliable communications. Onboard autonomy could help overcome those constraints by accomplishing the CASEVAC mission from end to end, even when communications are disrupted”
BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merlin, Inc., an aerospace and defense technology company building the operating system of record for autonomous flight, today announced it has been awarded a U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) contract to demonstrate capability in the initial phase of its Autonomous Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) Industry Technology Challenge. Merlin received a $500,000 contract, which will fund a demonstration of Merlin Pilot™ autonomously executing a CASEVAC mission using a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. Planned for early U.S. government fiscal year 2027 in Morocco, the demonstration will encompass the full mission, from initial tasking and flight planning continuing through autonomous departure and enroute flight to an austere casualty collection site. Following simulated patient loading, the aircraft will conduct its return mission, autonomously completing the flight and landing back at the designated location.
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