Israel’s IAI to explore development of autonomous freighters with US specialist Merlin

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is pursuing the development of autonomous commercial cargo aircraft in partnership with U.S.-based specialist Merlin. This collaboration aims to advance the technology for unmanned freighter operations, focusing initially on large multi-crew transports as potential candidates. While IAI has not yet identified specific aircraft platforms under consideration, it recognizes the value of Merlin's engineering expertise. The firm’s strategy centers around leveraging Condor systems within this developmental process. This initiative represents a significant step toward integrating advanced automation into the global freight transport sector, marking an early stage exploration of future possibilities.