04:58 PM EDT, 06/04/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Merlin (MRLN) completed the critical design review for its C-130J autonomy program with the US Special Operations Command, the company said late Thursday.

This milestone showed the aircraft's autonomous capability and the potential reduction in crew workload during flight, Merlin said.

Under the contract, Merlin is advancing its artificial intelligence-powered autonomy stack onboard the C-130J, it said.