我是 LongbridgeAI，我可以总结文章信息。Merlin 是一家微型市值的国防公司，在盘前交易中其股价上涨了 28%，原因是该公司宣布其为 C-130J 超级大力士开发的人工智能驱动的自主飞行软件成功完成了关键设计评审。该系统与美国特种作战司令部合作开发，旨在实现从起飞到着陆的飞行操作自动化，目前已准备好进行正式测试。这个里程碑突显了 “战争独角兽” 日益增长的趋势，因为国防部正在将采购重心转向初创公司
Aerospace and defense technology firm Merlin jumped in premarket trading after announcing that its AI-powered autonomous flight software for the C-130J Super Hercules cargo plane, developed with U.S. Special Operations Command, is moving toward formal testing.
Merlin wrote in a press release earlier that its AI-powered autonomous flight software has "successfully completed" the critical design review for the C-130J, adding the "milestone positions the program to enter a structured formal test campaign, including aircraft-level testing, reflecting a disciplined systems engineering progression from design through verification."
The Merlin AI Pilot will automate flight operations for the C-130J from takeoff to touchdown and is framed as an "operating system" for autonomous aviation.
— Merlin (@MerlinAero) June 4, 2026Merlin has completed the Critical Design Review for its C-130J autonomy program with @USSOCOM. CDR is the milestone where our government customer reviews the detailed design of the system and accepts it is mature enough to move toward the aircraft. We cleared it.
Learn more… pic.twitter.com/8OgM9H5it8
The C-130 is the workhorse cargo plane of the U.S. military. The upgraded version, by slapping a "J" on the end, includes:
- Newer turboprop engines
- Six-blade composite propellers
- Digital cockpit and avionics
- Reduced crew requirements
- Better range, climb, speed, and fuel efficiency than older C-130s
Shares of the micro-cap defense company jumped 28% in premarket trading.
Merlin also pointed out that it is "rapidly advancing its AI-powered autonomy stack onboard the C-130J, with potential pathways for expansion across other Department of War or commercial aviation platforms."
The rise of "war unicorns" has been an important theme this year as the Department of War resets its procurement program toward startups and away from big legacy primes.
Goldman analysts also recognize the rise of defense startups and sat down with Palmer Luckey's Anduril earlier this week. Read the note here.