Merlin, Inc. reports company developments tied to autonomous flight software, the Merlin Pilot system, defense and civil aviation programs, and customer or partner arrangements. News items also cover business performance presentations, program execution, regulatory approval activities, and the company’s transition into public-company operations following its completed business combination.
Recurring Merlin news includes governance updates, executive appointments, capital actions such as PIPE financing, common-stock and warrant issuances, and agreements intended to expand autonomy opportunities across aviation operators and mission profiles.
Merlin (MRLN) plans to review its third-quarter 2026 business performance in a presentation and live Q&A on November 12, 2026. The session begins at 4:30 p.m. ET and covers the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Webcast registration is available on its investor relations website, where a replay and presentation materials will be available afterward.
Merlin (NASDAQ: MRLN) has moved its U.S. flight operations to North Central State Airport in Smithfield, Rhode Island, adding hangar capacity. The company has concluded flight operations at Quonset State Airport. Merlin said the new facility provides space and operational flexibility for its expanding fleet and growing flight testing requirements.
The fleet includes a Beechcraft King Air, first flown by the Merlin Pilot autonomy platform this month, and an L-39 Albatros, its first owned jet aircraft. Merlin sees the L-39 as an opportunity to extend its platform toward tactical and other high-performance military missions. Its aircraft integration work also includes the Cessna 208 Caravan and Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules.
Merlin (Nasdaq: MRLN) announced that its management is scheduled to participate in three investor conferences in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The schedule includes the Maxim Growth Summit on October 12–14 and the ROTH Technology Conference on November 17–18, both in New York City, followed by the virtual Northland Growth Conference on December 16.
Merlin (MRLN) demonstrated its Merlin Pilot autonomous flight platform at the Texas Department of Transportation’s Project NEXUS eVTOL Integration Pilot Program kickoff event at Alliance Airport. The company, participating as an invited guest alongside partners including Joby Aviation and BETA Technologies, showcased autonomous takeoff and landing, AI-powered air traffic control communications, and in-flight re-planning and threat avoidance. Merlin positions these capabilities as supporting Advanced Air Mobility integration into the U.S. National Airspace System, contributing operational data to the FAA-selected, multi-state Project NEXUS initiative.
Merlin (MRLN) will shift its civil certification strategy from small to large aircraft, withdrawing its small-aircraft STC application with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.
The company plans a phased approach to certifying its Merlin Pilot autonomy system on large, high-assurance aircraft, leveraging experience from its New Zealand program and its C-130J autonomy work with U.S. Special Operations Command. Merlin has completed preliminary and critical design reviews on the C-130J program, and its New Zealand certification work achieved SOI 3 and a Stage 4 issue paper on AI/ML-based natural language processing, which will inform future collaboration with the FAA and other regulators.
Merlin (NASDAQ: MRLN) announced it has been designated a Part 146 Aircraft Design Organization by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ), allowing Merlin engineers with delegation authority to internally approve certain aircraft design changes within an agreed scope.
The certificate is not limited to a single aircraft or program and recognizes Merlin’s established design control system and engineering competence as assessed by CAANZ. It supports Merlin’s strategic plans for New Zealand operations and builds on prior certification milestones, including achieving SOI 3 for its AI-powered autonomy stack and concluding a key issue paper on certifying AI/ML-based natural language processing capabilities.
A1R water, an atmospheric water generation company, closed its business combination with SPAC Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: IPCX), following shareholder approval on July 29, 2026 and closing on August 14, 2026. The combined company will list on Nasdaq under ticker “WATR” starting August 17, 2026.
The transaction includes a fully committed $96 million PIPE anchored by Inflection Point, existing A1R water investors, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and institutional investors, to scale atmospheric water production and expand retail distribution. A1R water has launched in South Florida, including partnerships at the Miami HEAT’s Kaseya Center and Inter Miami CF’s NU Stadium.
Merlin (Nasdaq: MRLN) reported second quarter 2026 revenue of $2.2 million, up from $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2026. GAAP net loss was $58.4 million, while Adjusted EBITDA loss was $27.8 million. The company ended June 30, 2026 with $183.9 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments and reported no debt, up from $123.1 million at March 31, 2026.
Operationally, Merlin completed Critical Design Review for the USSOCOM C-130J autonomy program, executed what it describes as the first fully autonomous landing at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh using a Cessna 208B, signed a non-binding MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries for Part 25 cargo autonomy, and reached SOI 3 with New Zealand’s CAANZ while resolving an AI/ML certification issue paper for its Merlin Pilot system.
Merlin (MRLN) announced it has achieved Stage of Involvement 3 (SOI 3) with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ) in a Part 23 certification program for its Merlin Pilot autonomy platform. The milestone covers the Flight Control Computer and Automated Communication System, combining AI-powered natural language processing with full flight autonomy.
The work is conducted with CAANZ in coordination with the FAA under a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement. Merlin also concluded an issue paper on AI/ML-based natural language processing, confirming regulator agreement on the certification approach and evidence needed to show the system is safe and performs as intended.
Merlin (Nasdaq: MRLN) announced it will host a presentation and live Q&A session to review its business performance for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. The webcast is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET, after market close. Investors can register and later access the replay and presentation materials via Merlin’s investor relations website.