Textron and Merlin Labs Develop SkyCourier UX Drone for Uncrewed Aerial Logistics
- Published
- Source
- TheWarZone
Textron, the owner of Cessna, has partnered with Merlin Labs to create the SkyCourier UX, an uncrewed aerial logistics drone based on the Cessna 408 SkyCourier. This drone is designed for military use, particularly in contested environments, and features a hydraulically operated nose that opens to a cargo bay, facilitating the loading of large cargo without specialized equipment.
The SkyCourier UX maintains a payload capacity of approximately 6,000 pounds and is optimized for standard pallet loading, which streamlines logistics by allowing cargo to be transported without repackaging. With a range of about 900 nautical miles, it is well-suited for operations in the Pacific, enabling efficient supply delivery across island chains.
Looking ahead, the collaboration aims to leverage proven capabilities to quickly deploy and sustain the new drone variant. The autonomy package, known as Merlin Pilot, is already in use under a $105 million contract for the C-130J Super Hercules, with plans for further developments in autonomous flight capabilities for military applications in the near future.
Original report
Cessna Cuts Cockpit Out Of SkyCourier Cargo Hauler For Uncrewed Logistics
TheWarZone · Hope Hodge SeckThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
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