Boeing’s Phantom Eye liquid-hydrogen-powered remotely piloted aircraft completes its first autonomous flight, reaching an altitude of more than 4,000 feet and a cruising speed of 62 knots during its 28-minute flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
U.S. Africa Command will soon see if a small, autonomous aircraft can evacuate casualties from austere locations during a demonstration planned for December in Morocco. Merlin, an autonomous aviation firm, announced Nov. 11 it has received a $500,000 contract from AFRICOM for the demo mission.