The US military tests an AI 'copilot' to fly wounded soldiers out of danger.

The US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM) is preparing to test an autonomous air ambulance system. The demonstration, scheduled for early fiscal year 2027, will use a modified Cessna Grand Caravan, equipped with an AI 'copilot' from Merlin Labs, to perform a simulated casualty evacuation mission in Morocco. The goal is to create a pilot-optional or uncrewed evacuation capability for remote combat zones where immediate medical access is limited.

This technology could be crucial for supporting US forces in isolated areas across Africa and the Pacific, where evacuating injured personnel is logistically challenging and dangerous. Merlin Labs, which has already secured multiple military contracts for autonomous systems on aircraft like the C-130 and KC-135, will run the full mission autonomously, from takeoff to landing, including simulated patient loading. The test represents a significant step toward integrating AI into critical, life-saving military logistics.