Big news just dropped from Merlin, a company that’s been making waves in the world of autonomous flight.

On Tuesday, November 12, the company announced that the US Air Force had given the green light to their airworthiness plan for testing the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 Stratotanker.

If that sounds like a game-changer, it’s because it is. This marks a huge step forward in the US Air Force’s push to modernize its fleet and bring cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) into military aviation.

So, what’s this all about, and why should you care? Well, the collaboration between Merlin and the Air Force is about much more than just testing out a new piece of tech. It’s part of a larger mission to integrate AI into the operation of one of the most critical assets in military aviation: the KC-135 Stratotanker.

But before diving into that, let’s take a closer look at the aircraft itself.

The KC-135 Stratotanker: The Backbone of Refueling

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a big deal. It’s been in service for over six decades, providing the backbone of the US Air Force’s aerial refueling capabilities.

This aircraft has played a major role in the success of missions that require long-range operations, giving the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and even allied nations the ability to refuel aircraft mid-air. Think of it as the fuel stop that keeps planes in the sky when they need to travel long distances, especially for global missions.

In addition to its refueling prowess, the KC-135 is capable of supporting aeromedical evacuations and transporting patients using special medical pallets. And while it’s mostly known for its refueling capabilities, it’s also been adapted for other roles over the years, including reconnaissance and flying command post missions.