The US Air Force’s deal with Reliable Robotics to add autonomous flight to its cargo planes is a quiet revolution in military aviation. This $17.4 million contract is to retrofit a Cessna 208B Caravan—a solid, no frills workhorse plane—with Reliable’s autonomous flight technology.
Reliable Robotics, a California-based company founded in 2017, has been working to make planes fly themselves for years, not just for the military but for commercial aviation too. Their Reliable Autonomy System (RAS) can take over every part of a flight—taxiing, takeoff, cruising and landing—without a pilot touching the controls. It’s not picky about what plane it’s on; it can work on anything from a small Cessna to a massive KC-135 Stratotanker. For this contract the Air Force is starting with the Cessna 208B, a single engine turboprop known for its reliability and low maintenance, often used for hauling cargo or passengers in rugged environments.
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The RAS uses multiple layers of backup systems and advanced navigation tech to keep the plane on course even if something goes wrong. It’s designed to handle the chaos of busy airspace, dodging other aircraft with detect and avoid technology and communicating seamlessly with air traffic control. The Federal Aviation Administration has already given a thumbs up to Reliable’s certification plan, a big deal for a system that will operate in both civilian and military skies. This isn’t just about flying without a pilot; it’s about flying with a level of reliability that matches or exceeds human performance.
The Air Force is looking at this tech for its Agile Combat Employment (ACE) plan. At times, the military must transport supplies rapidly and unpredictably to remote regions. Pilots are overwhelmed in these situations, and larger cargo planes like the C-130J Hercules or the C-17A Globemaster III consume a lot of fuel and money. The Cessna 208B, with its 1,200-pound cargo capacity and 1,150-mile range, is a less expensive and more nimble option. By automating it the Air Force can send these planes to remote outposts without risking lives and save money. Retired General Mike Minihan, former head of Air Mobility Command, calls autonomous aircraft a “force multiplier” because they can expand where and how supplies can be delivered – fast, secure and on the military’s terms.
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