UAVs to be used for mid-air refueling

Here is another use for UAVs: The goal of the government-industry Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) program is to develop and demonstrate systems that will enable UAVs to safely approach and maneuver around tanker aircraft so they can successfully perform boom and receptacle refueling operations. The systems — including a flight control computer and control laws developed by Boeing Phantom Works — are demonstrated using a Calspan Learjet specially equipped to fly autonomously as a UAV. During a recent flight test, the AAR system autonomously guided the Learjet “UAV” up to a Boeing KC-135R tanker and successfully maneuvered it among seven air refueling positions behind the tanker — contact, precontact, left and right inboard observation, left and right outboard observation, and break away. The system controlled the Learjet for more than 1 hour and 40 minutes and held the aircraft in the critical contact position for 20 minutes. A pilot flies the Learjet to and from the vicinity of the tanker and stands by to take over if necessary, but he does not otherwise control the aircraft during the refueling maneuvering portion of the experiment.

Plans call for a follow-on Phase II program that will include autonomous multi-ship operations