NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Aerospace company Textron and AI firm Merlin Labs have unveiled a concept for an unmanned version of the Cessna Skycourier aircraft, designed to address logistical challenges in the Pacific islands.
The proposal removes the cockpit from the Cessna Skycourier, adding a flip-up nose for easier automated loading and integrating Merlin Pilot AI for autonomous flight. With capabilities including three tons of payload, a thousand-mile range, and operation from airstrips as short as half a mile, the aircraft is intended as a low-cost complement to larger Air Force transports, particularly for supplying scattered island outposts.
“This aircraft operates from the Arctic to the Amazon, and there are Pacific island nations that already rely on similar platforms,” said Bobb Gibbs, Textron’s vice president for special missions and defense. “They land on gravel, grass, or whatever surface is available.”
Although the Skycourier cannot replace existing transports like the C-130 or C-17—for instance, its range falls short for routes like Guam to Manila—it could fill a niche by shuttling supplies from major hubs to remote locations. Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Kyle Kremer, a Merlin Labs advisor, highlighted its role in dispersing forces across the Second Island Chain, such as Palau and Saipan, where larger aircraft are impractical.
Kremer noted that unmanned operations would conserve human pilots for long-haul missions. Matt George, CEO of Merlin Labs, added that an optionally manned version with both cockpit and AI is feasible, and the AI can control other Textron aircraft like the Cessna Caravan and King Air.
The Skycourier’s modular design supports passenger, cargo, and air ambulance configurations, with the companies open to military feedback on adaptations. Despite years of debate on contested logistics, Gibbs remarked, “I don’t believe the Department of War has committed to a solution. They ask us to deliver supplies, and we’re offering an aircraft that can be provided promptly.”