Airbus Automated Refueling A First Step Toward Autonomous Capability

Tony Osborne April 28, 2020
A3R
The A3R system’s image processing function looks for receiver attributes so that the boom can be safely prepositioned, ready to make the connection with the receptacle.
Credit: Airbus Defense and Space
Airbus says aerial refueling operations could be performed with just two crewmembers on the flight deck by the end of the decade. As the company refines its automatic aerial refueling (A3R) for its A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), with the aim of certifying the technology as ready for...
Tony Osborne

Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines.

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