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Textron and Merlin Unveil Autonomous Cessna SkyCourier Concept

Light military cargo carrier would bridge gap between heavy airlifters and drones.

Jonathan Welsh
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Jonathan Welsh

SkyCourier UX cargo access [Credit: Textron Aviation]

Textron Aviation took another step toward autonomous flight with the unveiling of the Cessna SkyCourier UX, a concept aircraft using Merlin Pilot software that would allow autonomous military supply missions on the battlefield and in other contested areas.

Textron and Merlin introduced the concept during the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, which runs Monday through Wednesday in National Harbor, Maryland. The goal of the SkyCourier UX in part is to bridge the gap between traditional military heavy-airlift aircraft and drones.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is a private pilot and lifelong aviation enthusiast who has been a reporter, writer and columnist for 35 years. His career includes stints with the Wall Street Journal, Flying Magazine and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He recently returned to Firecrown to lead Aviation Consumer.