WATCH: U.S. Navy Makes History: First Time Refueling Jet With Unmanned Drone | FerrariChat
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WATCH: U.S. Navy Makes History: First Time Refueling Jet With Unmanned Drone

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by NYC Fred, Jun 9, 2021.

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  1. NYC Fred

    NYC Fred F1 World Champ
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    #1 NYC Fred, Jun 9, 2021
    The U.S. Navy made history by refueling an airborne manned jet with an unmanned tanker drone.

    A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet took off from the MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, for a roughly four-hour flight last week in the history-making attempt.



    NAVAIR stated of the refueling by the unmanned air vehicle (UAV): “During the flight, the receiver Navy F/A-18 [Super] Hornet approached the Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset, conducted a formation evaluation, wake survey, drogue tracking and then plugged with the unmanned aircraft. T1 then successfully transferred fuel from its Aerial Refueling Store (ARS) to the F/A-18. The milestone comes after 25 T1 flights, testing both aircraft and ARS aerodynamics across the flight envelope, as well as extensive simulations of aerial refueling using MQ-25 digital models. MQ-25 T1 will continue flight testing prior to being shipped to Norfolk, Virginia, for deck handling trials aboard a U.S. Navy carrier later this year.”

    USNI News reports that 325 pounds of fuel was supplied to the fighter jet.




    https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-u-s-navy-makes-history-first-time-refueling-jet-with-unmanned-drone
     
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  2. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 tazandjan, Jun 9, 2021
    Amazed they could measure the fuel transfer that precisely. Cannot go very far on 325 lbs of JP8, but definitely a big occasion for the Navy. Nearly doubles a carrier's fire power for longer missions by not having to buddy transfer fuel from fighter to fighter.
     
  3. BJK

    BJK F1 Veteran

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    #3 BJK, Jun 9, 2021
    I wonder if the drone is 'aware' of the receiver aircraft? I would think it just flies a set pattern and speed.
    I mean the receiver has to come sooo close, you can't have the drone taking evasive maneuvers, right? TOO CLOSE! TOO CLOSE! :eek:
     
  4. NYC Fred

    NYC Fred F1 World Champ
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    #4 NYC Fred, Jun 9, 2021
    How much does a drone like these cost?
    Could they be deployed on a "suicide" mission? Fly out, fuel fighters and crash?

    Also curious to know payload. If 325lbs is it, how valuable is the tech?
     
  5. NYC Fred

    NYC Fred F1 World Champ
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    #5 NYC Fred, Jun 9, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2021
  6. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 tazandjan, Jun 9, 2021
    No, the payload is not 325 lbs, much higher. The MQ-25 flies a set pattern, likely a racetrack like manned tankers. It knows when a fighter plugs in, but that may be all. If wanted, Link 16 or equivalent could tell the MQ-25 and the F/A-18 where each other were if the desire was to keep F/A-18 radar transmissions down.
     
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  7. Jaguar36

    Jaguar36 Formula 3
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    #7 Jaguar36, Jun 9, 2021
  8. BJK

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    #8 BJK, Jun 9, 2021
    prove the concept, then go bigger :)

    .
     
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  9. jcurry

    jcurry Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 jcurry, Jun 9, 2021
    Does 'plugging in' automatically initiate the fuel transfer, and then the fighter has to un-plug to stop it?
     
  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 tazandjan, Jun 9, 2021
    Affirmative on a drogue system, but back pressure from full tanks can also cause a disconnect.
     
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