Autonomous High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Refueling (AHR)*
Abstract
* Formerly Autonomous Aerial Refueling The Autonomous High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Refueling (AHR) program will demonstrate high altitude refueling between unmanned aircraft in an operational environment. The program will leverage existing RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft to evaluate the opportunity to develop superior next generation, high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft built around the advantages of air refueling that have proven so vital to manned aviation. 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. The program will also promote the application of autonomy for better effectiveness, efficiency, and safety in challenging environments and also offers the potential for direct transition to the Global Hawk fleet.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 226e609f8016bdad333464c44d306d81