The military lacks drones: from a huge Stratotanker KC-135 aircraft will make a drone

The Merlin Pilot system will allow KC-135 to fill fighters in the air without the participation of the crew. Merlin has signed an agreement with the US Air Force, which will receive unmanned flight opportunities, Uusiness Wire reports. The developer of safe autonomous flight technology for Merlin aircraft in cooperation with the Command of Air Mobility (AMC) and the US Air Force (AFMC) command (AFMC) designs, integrates, protects the Merlin Pilot system on the KC-135 Stratotanker.

According to the part of the parties, this will allow to reduce the work load of the crews and then the number of operations involving crews. After the artificial intelligence system will learn and deserve the confidence of the military, the KC-135 aircraft can be used as an autonomous drone. Merlin and US Air Force cooperation will include system integration, ground tests and extended flight tests.

Merlin will develop a system based on data collected during numerous flights and human factor studies. Merlin Pilot will not only have to control the plane, but also to refuel in the air. Such integration will allow Merlin to improve its automation system, which can be installed in the planes that perform other tasks. Earlier we wrote about that. that the Kherson Ova transferred to the front drones, but "lit" their frequencies.