Aerospace conglomerate Textron and artificial intelligence company Merlin Labs have unveiled a new unmanned aircraft concept designed to support military logistics operations across the Pacific.
The proposal is based on Textron’s Cessna SkyCourier. The aircraft’s cockpit would be removed and replaced with a flip-up nose to simplify automated loading. Flight operations would be handled by Merlin Labs’ Merlin Pilot artificial intelligence system.
A compact aircraft for isolated operating locations
The SkyCourier offers a payload capacity of approximately three tons, a range of about 1,000 miles and the ability to operate from austere runways as short as half a mile.
The companies argue that these characteristics would make the aircraft an affordable complement to the much larger transport platforms currently operated by the U.S. Air Force.
In the Pacific, the aircraft could supply isolated island outposts and move equipment between major bases and smaller logistical sites.
“The aircraft is already operating from the Arctic to the Amazon. There are three different island nations in the Pacific that have fleets of them. They land on gravel, grass or virtually any suitable surface,” said Bobb Gibbs, Textron’s vice president for special missions and defense.
Not a replacement for the C-130 or C-17
The SkyCourier’s range limits its ability to perform long-distance missions. For example, the aircraft could not fly from Guam to Manila without additional support or an intermediate stop.
However, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Kyle Kremer, a member of Merlin Labs’ advisory board, said the platform could complement existing airlifters by handling short shuttle missions between major hubs and small, dispersed islands.
“The benefit comes from the ability to disperse forces across the Second Island Chain—Palau, Tinian, Saipan and other locations. We cannot dedicate C-130s and C-17s to numerous small shuttle missions. That is where smaller platforms are needed,” Kremer said.
Preserving human pilots for strategic missions
An autonomous aircraft would also allow the Air Force to reserve human crews for long-haul missions that demand greater experience and operational resources.
Merlin Labs and Textron could also develop an optionally crewed version equipped with both a conventional cockpit and the artificial intelligence pilot. Merlin Labs CEO and founder Matt George said the company’s technology can also be integrated into other aircraft, including the Cessna Caravan and King Air.
Flexible configuration for cargo and medical evacuation
The SkyCourier has a modular design and can be configured for passenger transport, cargo operations or medical evacuation missions.
Textron says it is prepared to consider military feedback and modify the aircraft to meet operational requirements.
The same platform could therefore be used to resupply bases, transport personnel, evacuate wounded service members and deliver equipment to locations with limited infrastructure.
A logistics solution for contested environments
The concept comes amid growing concern over logistics in contested operating environments. In a potential Pacific conflict, major bases and conventional supply routes could become vulnerable, increasing the need to disperse supplies and use smaller aircraft.
Bobb Gibbs argued that years of discussion about contested logistics have not yet produced sufficiently concrete action from the Department of Defense.
“People have been discussing contested logistics for years, but I do not feel that the Department of Defense has taken the decisive step toward solving the problem. They continue to ask industry to bring them solutions, and what we are saying is that we could literally provide an aircraft tomorrow,” he said.
