Spain Leads €8M EDA Push for Autonomous Aerial Refueling of Several Drones

Spain, Germany and Belgium launched an estimated €8 million second phase of a European Defence Agency project on automated hose-and-drogue aerial refueling on October 8. Led by Spain, the work focuses on coordinating multiple unmanned receivers with one tanker through relative navigation, image sensors, communications and onboard processing. Trials will progress through simulation, robotic-arm laboratory tests and ground and flight testing, using an Airbus A330 MRTT and a German Aerospace Center experimental receiver aircraft. The project builds on earlier trials with crewed aircraft and develops technology for future autonomous refueling rather than announcing an operational drone-refueling capability.