Automated Air-to-Air Refueling

Update 5 Aug 2025: Solicitation Questions and Answers Attachment Added (Attachment 13) Original Solicitation: The Air-to-Air Refueling effort is being solicited as a 2-STEP CALL FOR PROPOSALS under the Rapid Advanced Capability Transition (ReACT) Multiple Authority Annoucement (FA2385-24-S-9701). The A3R objectives falls within scope of Topic 6 of the ReACT MAA. The A3R requirement integrally involves autonomous control technologies and manned-unmanned teaming and thus falls withing scope of the ReACT MAA.

The call is planned to be issued in accordance with the ReACT MAA terms and conditions. Current automation solutions require an aerial refueling operator to monitor the system. Boom automation developments have primarily focused on a short-range relative navigation system that provides tracking information into the tanker’s boom control unit. The intent for CRONUS boom automation is to develop advanced boom automation technologies that would enable a future boom equipped tanker to be uncrewed.

Work areas could include defining models and logic to determine when refueling should proceed and when it should be stopped, extending system reliability so that operator monitoring is not required, analysis techniques to support system certification, and contingency event identification and resolution. A3R will accelerate platform agnostic capabilities and reduce risk for future tanking concepts by demonstrating full boom automation capabilities in a GPS denied environment. A3R acquisition approach aims to eliminate vendor lock scenarios by requiring open architecture and interface standards.