Merlin, Inc.

Merlin Expands Flight Operations with Move to North Central State Airport

Merlin has moved its U.S. flight operations to North Central State Airport in Smithfield, Rhode Island, concluding operations at Quonset State Airport. The move adds hangar capacity for an expanding fleet that now includes a Beechcraft King Air and an L-39 Albatros, the company's first owned jet, intended to extend the Merlin Pilot autonomy platform toward tactical military missions. CEO Matt George framed the relocation as supporting growing flight test programs and bringing operations closer to the Boston headquarters, part of a broader push to build greater Boston into an aviation-autonomy hub.

•12d ago

Merlin Demonstrates Autonomous Flight Capabilities at Texas Department of Transportation Project NEXUS eIPP Kickoff Event

Merlin (NASDAQ: MRLN) participated as an invited guest in the kickoff of TxDOT's Project NEXUS, part of the FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, demonstrating its Merlin Pilot AI autonomy platform at Alliance Airport alongside Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies. The demonstration — narrated by CEO Matt Garcia and attended by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Senator Ted Cruz — showcased autonomous takeoff and landing, AI-powered Air Traffic Control communications, and dynamic in-flight re-planning and threat avoidance. No contract or financial commitment was announced; Merlin's role is as a supporting participant helping demonstrate how autonomy can operate in the National Airspace System. The company separately cites $100M+ in IDIQ contract ceiling value under its USSOCOM C-130J autonomy program.

•1mo ago

Merlin Designated a New Zealand Part 146 Aircraft Design Organization, Advancing Its Path to Commercial Operations

Merlin received a Part 146 Aircraft Design Organization certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, authorizing its engineers to approve certain design changes internally. This certification converts what was previously an external cost and schedule risk into internal capacity, validating the maturity of the company's engineering control systems. The capability supports Merlin's strategy to scale its autonomy stack across multiple aircraft, as noted by the CEO regarding the cost curve of subsequent certifications.

•2mo ago

A1R water Debuts as Publicly Traded Company to Build Leading CPG Brand in Atmospheric Water

A1R water closed its business combination with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. III, backed by a fully committed $96 million PIPE to support commercial-scale production. The combined company will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol WATR on August 17. Management plans to use the capital to expand retail distribution across the Southeast and capture a share of the $12.5 billion air-to-water market.

•2mo ago

Merlin, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results

Merlin reported Q2 revenue of $2.2 million, doubling sequentially from the prior quarter, while ending the period with a strengthened cash position of $183.9 million. Operationally, the company executed a significant milestone by performing the first fully autonomous landing of a conventional aircraft at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, alongside completing the Critical Design Review for its USSOCOM C-130J program. Merlin also expanded its partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries to address the civil cargo market and achieved Stage of Involvement 3 with the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, advancing toward certification for its Merlin Pilot system.

•2mo ago

Merlin Achieves Next Stage in Certification of Its Autonomous Flight Technology

Merlin achieved the Stage of Involvement 3 (SOI 3) certification milestone with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand for its Flight Control Computer and Automated Communication System. The milestone, conducted in coordination with the FAA, confirms the Merlin Pilot software has been tested against requirements and resolves an issue paper regarding AI/ML-based natural language processing. This progress establishes a foundation for the final stages of the certification process, supporting the company's goal of delivering full-stack aviation autonomy.

•2mo ago

Merlin and IAI Sign Agreement to Advance AI-Powered Autonomy for Commercial Cargo Aircraft

Merlin signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to advance the development and certification of its 'Condor' autonomy system for commercial cargo aircraft. The partnership leverages IAI's expertise in aircraft design, certification, and passenger-to-freighter conversions to validate a path toward civil certification for Part 25 aircraft. This agreement builds on Merlin's recent collaboration with World Star Aviation and reflects growing industry momentum for integrating autonomous technologies into existing fleets.

•3mo ago

Merlin Completes Autonomous Landing at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Merlin successfully completed an autonomous landing of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, marking a technical milestone for its Merlin Pilot AI-powered autonomy platform. The event occurred on Runway 27 at 10:02am CDT on July 17, 2026, in front of over 600,000 attendees, demonstrating progress toward operational deployment of the technology. This achievement builds on other recent milestones, including a Critical Design Review for its C-130J autonomy program with U.S. Special Operations Command and the unveiling of its Condor product family.

•3mo ago

Merlin Successfully Completes Critical Design Review for C-130J Autonomy Program with USSOCOM

Merlin, Inc. announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its C-130J autonomy program with USSOCOM. This milestone validates the system’s design readiness and transitions the program from design development into aircraft integration and formal testing activities. The progress supports the company’s broader IDIQ contract with a ceiling value exceeding $100 million, advancing the timeline for flight demonstrations of its AI-powered autonomy stack.

•4mo ago

Merlin, Inc. Announces $80 Million PIPE Investment to Accelerate Program Execution and Unlock New Growth Opportunities

Merlin secured $80 million in PIPE financing from an existing institutional shareholder, increasing its pro forma cash position to $183 million. The deal involves the sale of 8 million shares at $10.00 per share and warrants for an additional 4 million shares at a $6.67 strike price. Proceeds are allocated to accelerating core platform development, regulatory approvals, and scaling program capacity for its autonomous flight technology.

•6mo ago

Merlin and Remah International Group Announce Exclusive Teaming Agreement to Scope Autonomy Opportunities in the UAE

Merlin Labs, a subsidiary of Merlin, Inc., entered into an exclusive teaming agreement with Remah International Group to introduce autonomous flight systems to the United Arab Emirates. RIG, a trusted partner to the UAE Armed Forces, will work exclusively with Merlin to identify suitable aircraft platforms and support implementation of Merlin’s AI-powered autonomy stack. CEO Matt George cited the Middle East as a critical region for aviation adoption, noting the partnership aligns autonomy with evolving mission requirements amid geopolitical complexity.

•6mo ago