Reliable Robotics, a frontrunner in autonomous aircraft systems, has successfully carried out a series of automated missions across California and Nevada airfields for the Department of the Air Force. Partnering with Air Combat Command, Reliable showcased its aircraft automation capabilities during the Agile Flag 24-3 exercise, transporting cargo between military bases and airports—some located hundreds of miles apart—on demand over the course of a week. This exercise, designed to simulate the Indo-Pacific region’s operational environment, emphasized agility, readiness, and multi-domain operations.
Colonel Max Bremer, Mobility COE Senior Advisor and Chief of Special Programs Division at Air Mobility Command, commented, “The Air Force has a unique opportunity to redefine efficiency through autonomous operations, enabling persistent maneuver in contested environments and simultaneous cargo delivery, rather than our current sequential system. Autonomy in small platforms reduces risk and allows for landings on more varied surfaces, including damaged runways.” He further noted that military exercises like Agile Flag are crucial for evaluating how autonomous technologies perform in real missions.
The automated flights involved a Cessna 208B Caravan, featuring autotaxi, autotakeoff, en-route navigation, and autolanding. These flights were overseen by a Reliable remote pilot while an onboard pilot monitored the operations. Reliable set up a mobile control station at Mojave Air and Space Port, which served as the operational hub for the exercise, enabling on-site demonstrations for Air Force and NASA personnel.
Throughout the weeklong exercise, Reliable executed flights to eight locations, delivering essential cargo on an “on-demand” basis without the need for additional infrastructure. This highlighted the flexibility and utility of automated flight systems. Preparing for the exercise involved securing military airworthiness and flight safety approvals from the U.S. Air Force.
NASA Armstrong’s executive leadership observed Reliable’s operations at Mojave. Brad Flick, Center Director at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, expressed enthusiasm about Reliable’s dual-use automation system, stating, “We are excited to see the maturity of their technology for both commercial and defense applications.”
Reliable holds the only FAA-accepted certification plan for full aircraft automation and continues to advance its certification process. The safety-enhancing system includes redundancy, high-integrity navigation, and an “always on” autopilot for all aircraft operation phases. The technology is aircraft-agnostic, having successfully flown a Cessna 172 in 2019 and a Cessna 208B Caravan in 2023.
Dr. David O’Brien, Major General (Ret.) and Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at Reliable Robotics, remarked, “We are proud to participate in military exercises. Agile Flag allowed us to demonstrate how our autonomous flight system benefits defense missions and ensures timely mission readiness.” Reliable remains dedicated to supporting the U.S. Air Force and other military branches.
In addition to Agile Flag 24-3, Reliable participated in Agile Flag 24-1 earlier this year and the Golden Phoenix exercise in 2023. The company has been collaborating with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX since 2021.
