# SOCOM Awards Merlin C-130J Autonomy Task Order

U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Merlin an **$8.9 million** task order to integrate its Merlin Pilot autonomous software into a Lockheed Martin C-130J and prepare for future ground and flight testing. The funded work covers aircraft-control software integration, flight-control tuning, human-factors and failure-mode evaluations, simulation, cybersecurity approval, safety documentation, and government acceptance for flight testing; it does not fund the ground- and flight-test campaign itself. The task order was issued under a five-year, $105 million IDIQ awarded in 2024, so it is not an open solicitation. Actuator servo performance remains a technical dependency for the aircraft integration effort.

- The task order advances a fixed-wing autonomy system for special operations aircraft, with testing and government acceptance preparations included in the funded scope.
- Contractors should distinguish this task order from a new competition: the award went to Merlin under the existing IDIQ, and the test campaign is not covered by the current funding.
- Potential follow-on work may depend on successful integration and actuator servo performance; companies with relevant aircraft-control, safety, cybersecurity, or testing capabilities can use the stated scope to understand the technical areas involved, without treating it as an active bid opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
**Published:** November 12, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM)

### Vendors
- Merlin (awardee)
- Lockheed Martin (C-130J aircraft manufacturer)

### Key Quotes
> This task order brings us closer to demonstrating how Merlin Pilot can reduce the demands on C-130J aircrews and expand the operational capacity of the aircraft
> — Matt George, CEO of Merlin

### Sources
- [Merlin will integrate autonomous software into the cockpit of a @LockheedMartin C-130J and prepare for future ground and flight testing under a new contract from U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM)

https://t.co/kBBSJLaKMP](https://x.com/AviationWeek/status/2120586610894921976) - twitter-defense
- [Merlin Secures USSOCOM Task Order to Advance C-130 Autonomy](https://www.executivebiz.com/articles/merlin-ussocom-task-order-c130j-autonomy) - ExecutiveBiz