Non-GPS Relative Navigation for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Refueling

The ability to refuel piloted aircraft in flight is a strategic military advantage that has been critical to success in every DoD military engagement of the jet age. Adding the capability to refuel Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) will increase the number of aircraft that can be kept on station, as well as their time on station, thereby extending USAF reach and its ability to protect allies while prosecuting adversaries. Automating the refueling task would also improve the effectiveness and safety of refueling for suitably equipped piloted aircraft, doubling the benefits. While GPS and optical systems have proven effective in demonstrations of automated refueling capability, none have provided the levels availability, continuity, and integrity needed for long duration extreme close formation operations, and GPS in particular is vulnerable to attack. Proposed here is an optimal blend of radio frequency (RF), optical, and inertial systems, that provides the flight-control-equivalent levels of safety needed for automated aerial refueling (AAR), while making use of capabilities already present on RPA aircraft, that are also practical for and available to piloted aircraft. This Phase II applied research will adapt our Multi-Sensor Relative Navigation (RelNav) System for AAR in preparation for Phase III flight testing and deployment.