Autonomous Aerial Refueling
Abstract
(U) The Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) program will demonstrate high altitude refueling between unmanned aircraft in an operational environment. The program will leverage existing RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems equipped with probe and drogue style refueling hardware and an autonomous refueling system. Specific challenges include achieving a repeatable probability of success with limited flight performance aircraft under high altitude conditions, redundant safe separation and unmanned flight operations. AAR will allow developers of high altitude long endurance aircraft to confidently employ the advantages of air refueling that have proven so vital to manned aviation. The program will foster the application of autonomy for better effectiveness, efficiency and safety in challenging battlespaces and also offers the potential for direct transition to the Global Hawk fleet.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- 110ab2bf7c5bfb8b6e92b172057554ae