Tel Aviv: US company Merlin, announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to advance the development, integration, and certification of AI-powered autonomy for commercial cargo aircraft.
The agreement initiates a phased engagement, including joint market exploration, engineering collaboration, regulatory preparation, and initial platform selection to lay the groundwork for a definitive commercial agreement and a structured path toward civil certification.
IAI Chairman of the Board Boaz Levy, stated, “Throughout its history, IAI has consistently been at the forefront of aerospace innovation, developing technologies that shape the future of aviation. Our collaboration with Merlin reflects a shared commitment to advancing next-generation capabilities that can enhance safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility across the aviation industry. We believe autonomy will play an increasingly important role in the years ahead, and we are proud to partner with innovative companies that are helping define that future.”
The collaboration with IAI is part of Condor, Merlin’s new product family for large, multi-crew aircraft. As a leading aerospace and defence OEM, IAI brings deep expertise in aircraft design and certification, advanced avionics, and MRO. The company is also a global leader in passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversions, with extensive and established relationships with leading freighter operators and lessors worldwide.
By combining Merlin’s autonomy expertise with IAI’s engineering depth, certification experience, advanced avionics capabilities, and leadership in passenger-to-freighter conversions, the companies aim to advance autonomous flight technologies for Part 25 aircraft that underpin global air cargo operations.
“IAI sits at the centre of the global cargo aviation ecosystem, and its deep expertise in aircraft certification, advanced avionics, and freighter conversions makes it a critical partner as we advance the Condor programme”, said Matt George, CEO and founder of Merlin.
“Merlin’s collaborations with IAI and World Star Aviation reflect growing industry recognition that AI-powered autonomy can enhance safety, improve operational efficiency, and help operators scale existing fleets to meet increasing demand. Together, we’re laying the groundwork to bring certifiable autonomy to the aircraft that power global cargo networks,” he added.
Matt George said, “The agreement between Merlin and IAI builds on growing industry interest in advancing AI-powered autonomy across commercial aviation. Together with Merlin’s recently announced relationship with cargo aircraft lessor World Star Aviation, we believe the collaboration reflects increasing momentum behind the development of certifiable autonomous capabilities for cargo aircraft and the broader aviation ecosystem. Through partnerships that combine operational, engineering, certification, and fleet expertise, the industry is taking important steps toward the future integration of autonomous technologies into existing aircraft platforms.”
Yaacov Berkovitz, EVP and GM of IAI Aviation Group, commented, “Autonomous technologies have the potential to become a significant part of the future aviation ecosystem, but their adoption will require far more than software innovation alone. Success will depend on the ability to integrate new capabilities into certified aircraft platforms while meeting the industry’s rigorous safety and regulatory standards. By combining Merlin’s autonomy expertise with IAI’s decades of experience in aircraft engineering, certification, avionics, and freighter conversions, we aim to help advance practical and certifiable solutions for the commercial cargo market.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
