Merlin to Advance USSOCOM C-130J Autonomy Program From Design Into Integration with New $8.9 Million Task Order

The Next Phase Puts Merlin Pilot’s Design to the Test on the Path to Flight Demonstrations

Merlin has been awarded a new task order worth $8.9 million for the next phase of its C-130J autonomy program with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Following the completion of its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR), Merlin is now executing on its next task order, which includes system integration, ground test preparation, cybersecurity approval, and airworthiness acceptance to support future flight demonstrations.

At a glance

• Program: C-130J autonomy program with USSOCOM

• Aircraft: C-130J Super Hercules

• Autonomy system: Merlin Pilot

• Task order value: $8.9 million

• Task order scope: System integration, ground test preparation, cybersecurity approval, and airworthiness acceptance

Verifying System Behavior and Readiness Before Aircraft Installation

This next task order advances system integration and validation through flight control law tuning, human factors evaluations, failure mode testing, and simulated flight test dry runs to verify system behavior and readiness before aircraft installation.

Preparing for Ground Testing and Flight Test Demonstrations

The task order also includes three areas of preparation for the C-130J autonomy program:

• Updating test plans, procedures, verification matrices, and safety assessments for Government review ahead of ground testing

• Advancing the cybersecurity assessment and documentation required for an Interim Authorization to Test (IATT)

• Delivering an updated airworthiness plan to support flight test demonstrations

On the Path to Flight Demonstrations

1. Preliminary Design Review: completion announced in March 2026

2. Critical Design Review: completion announced in June 2026

3. Current task order: system integration, ground test preparation, cybersecurity approval, and airworthiness acceptance

4. Future flight demonstrations: the milestone the current work is intended to support

From Autonomy Development to Practical Mission Capability

Merlin’s C-130J autonomy development program is designed to potentially reduce crew workload across all phases of flight. The completion of the milestones referenced above moves the program closer to demonstrating those capabilities on the C-130J aircraft.

“This task order brings us closer to demonstrating how Merlin Pilot can reduce the demands on C-130J aircrews and expand the operational capacity of the aircraft,” said Matt George, CEO and Founder, Merlin. “As government demand for autonomy grows, the priority is delivering capabilities that can be integrated into existing fleets and trusted in demanding operational environments. This next phase puts our design to the test, validating how the system performs, how crews interact with it, and how it responds in off-nominal conditions. Through our work with USSOCOM, we’re building a path from autonomy development to practical mission capability, giving aircrews greater support and commanders more flexibility in how they employ their aircraft.”

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This post contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding: the scope, timing, and anticipated outcomes of our work under the task order, including system integration, ground test preparation, cybersecurity approval, airworthiness acceptance, and flight demonstrations; the government’s funding of future phases of the program; and the relationship between Merlin’s technical and regulatory progress and its future revenue. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, assumptions, and projections about future events and trends. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation the risks and uncertainties detailed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” of our final prospectus, dated May 13, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2026, and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available from the SEC. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this post.