Innovative Concepts for Stabilization and Control of Aerial Refueling Drogues

The Nielsen Engineering & Research Division of Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is proposing the continued development of their Actively Stabilized Drogue Refueling System (ASDRS). This ASDRS minimizes drogue motion resulting from atmospheric turbulence, tanker wake, tanker motion, and receiver forebody effects. Numerical predictions indicate that this system can reduce the maximum radial displacement of an F-18 drogue in light turbulence from 2.61 feet to 0.16 feet. By presenting a more stable target, the ASDRS significantly increases the success rate, safety, allowable weather envelope, and cost effectiveness of aerial refueling operations for both manned and unmanned receivers operating with manned or unmanned tankers. A stabilized drogue is viewed as a required piece of technology to achieve operationally acceptable refueling efficiency for automated aerial refueling. AMA will advance the development of their ASDRS through a combination of electro-mechanical design, numerical analysis, wind tunnel tests, ground-based environmental testing, and flight tests. The proposed Phase II.5 effort leverages a combination of PMA, SBIR, and commercial funds. Successful completion of this Phase II.5 contract will provide a strong foundation for future qualification flight tests and rapid transition to the war fighter. The proposed effort will advance the ASDRS from TRL 5 to TRL 6-7.