Channels: Air Combat | Air & Missile Defense | Armor & Survivability | Defense Electronics & C4ISR | Electro-Optics & Night Vision | Fire Support | Future Combat Systems | Homeland Security | Infantry & Special Operations | Logistics & Support | Missiles & Precision Strike | Naval Warfare | Training & Simulation | Unmanned Systems & Robotics | Defense Exhibitions
USAF Develops Aerial Refuelling Support for Unmanned Systems
The US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) is developing Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) capability for autonomous aerial vehicles under a $49 million AFRL program. This new capability will enable an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to autonomously rendezvous with a tanker aircraft and refuel.
This artists concept shows a possible future application of Automated Aerial Refueling in which an unmanned, long-range bomber is refueled in flight.. Photo: Boeing Graphic.
The program has already demonstrated how a single UAV could safely maneuver among seven refueling positions behind a tanker aircraft, and conduct a breakaway maneuver. Currently entering Phase II, more complex flight tests will include autonomous multiship operations and the actual delivery of fuel to a manned surrogate UAV.
To demonstrate this capability the team is integrating a network of avionic systems simulating the automatic and autonomous refueling process, utilizing multichannel Precision Global Positioning System (GPS)-based navigation system, an automated flight control system, and AAR-specific command and control system components to accomplish boom and receptacle aerial refueling testing.