Unmanned flight testing heads to Morocco in early December as the U.S. military evaluates autonomous casualty evacuation technology in isolated terrain.
The U.S. military chose Morocco to test autonomous medical evacuation capabilities using an uncrewed Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, barlamane.com reported. American autonomous flight developer Merlin secured a 500,000-dollar contract from U.S. Africa Command for the demonstration.
The mission launches the Autonomous Casualty Evacuation Industry Technology Challenge. Africom established the program to examine evacuation of casualties in regions where distance, security threats, and communication breakdowns complicate traditional military evacuations.
Merlin announced the contract on Wednesday, November 11, setting the trial for the first days of December. The test flight sequence will cover an entire evacuation mission without permanent ground operator intervention, utilizing the Merlin Pilot system.
The aircraft will compute a flight plan, execute takeoff, and fly to a poorly equipped rendezvous point to retrieve a simulated patient. It will then return to a designated destination through autonomous approach and landing.
Transporting a wounded noncombatant or service member to medical care is time-critical and logistically complex. @USAfricaCommand (AFRICOM) is seeking autonomous solutions that can accelerate access to a higher level of care while reducing the number of personnel exposed to risk.… pic.twitter.com/UriHzsJfBI
Autonomous Flight Without Ground Links
The system operates differently from typical remote-piloted drones that rely on continuous links to control stations. Merlin Pilot calculates trajectories, corrects headings against obstacles, and processes automated natural language to communicate with air traffic control directly onboard.
Merlin said that the aircraft will continue its authorized flight plan even if ground communications drop entirely. This resilience addresses critical operational challenges in sectors with disrupted or vulnerable transmission networks.
The selection of the Cessna Grand Caravan stems from its payload capacity and adaptability to rough airstrips. The aircraft features a wide cargo door and flat cabin floor, allowing direct loading of a stretcher without helicopter winches.
The demonstration aircraft will carry a medical module equipped with an oxygen supply, electrical outlets, and patient monitoring supports. Africom oversees 53 African states across a territory roughly three and a half times the size of the United States, making it difficult to transport battlefield injuries to specialized surgical care.
Expanding Military Applications
On Tuesday, November 10, Merlin confirmed an additional 8.9-million-dollar contract to integrate autonomous functions into U.S. Special Operations Command C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft. That project falls under a ceiling agreement capped at 105 million dollars, separate from the Moroccan medical trial.
“Our goal consists of routing wounded military personnel and civilians toward surgical care as quickly and safely as possible, even when communications are interrupted”
Matt George, founder and chief executive officer of Merlin, stated.
