Airbus MRTT Successfully Completes Autonomous Refueling of Multiple Drones
The second and final test saw remote acquisition and fuel transfer from tanker to drone
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.
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