Airbus MRTT Successfully Completes Autonomous Refueling of Multiple Drones

Airbus has tested the technologies for autonomous air to air refueling based on controlling & guiding multiple drones from Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

Today was the second and final test campaign of the Auto’Mate autonomously refueling technology demonstrator was held, Airbus said in a posting on X.

Last March, a successful Auto’Mate demonstration using an Airbus testbed tanker aircraft and four unmanned drones achieved in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone using an A310 MRTT.

By automating in-flight refueling without the need for human intervention, an aerial tanker can take control of a “receiver” aircraft from several kilometers away and autonomously guide and control it into the proper position to receive fuel, followed by the actual fuel transfer via the tanker’s refuelling probe.