Merlin, Inc. - Common Stock (MRLN)

BOSTON, Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merlin, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRLN), a U.S. aerospace and defense technology company building the operating system of record for autonomous flight, today announced plans to pursue a civil certification strategy that sets it on a path to bring autonomy to large aircraft. Merlin intends to implement a phased, methodical approach offering opportunities for safety and efficiency gains. To concentrate its efforts on large aircraft, the company is withdrawing its small aircraft Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) application with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ), and will apply the technical foundation and regulatory experience it built there to the new program. New Zealand will remain Merlin's Pacific flight test center and demonstration home, and the company intends to begin commercial operations there.

This certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand allows Merlin to internally approve certain aircraft design changes, streamlining the design approval process

Ended Second Quarter 2026 With $183.9 Million in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short Term Investments, and No Debt

Merlin has achieved Stage of Involvement (SOI) 3 for a combined AI-powered natural language processing and full flight autonomy system in a Part 23 certification program with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand

Presentation and live Q&A to be held after market close on Thursday, August 13, 2026

The agreement establishes a framework for joint development, integration and certification of advanced autonomous flight technology for Part 25 freight aircraft

The autonomous landing demonstrates the growing maturity of AI-powered autonomy at one of aviation's most historic gatherings, long recognized for showcasing the innovations that redefine the future of flight

CDR approval marks the completion of the final design configuration for the C-130J, advancing the program to the aircraft integration phase

Company management to present at and/or attend 1x1 investor meetings at three conferences in June

Merlin Pilot, the same autonomy core advancing through military airworthiness with U.S. Special Operations Command on the C-130J, is aiming to come to commercial transport

Company Introduces Condor, Merlin’s first product, bringing Merlin Pilot to large, multi-crew aircraft for civil and defense missions

Presentation and live Q&A to be held pre-market on Thursday, May 14, 2026

Newly public aerospace and defense technology company assembles board combining deep defense leadership, public company governance expertise, and aerospace technical excellence