A3RHD-SC2

A3RHD-SC2 is the second phase of a research project funded by the European Defence Agency (EDA), with the participation of GMV. The project aims to advance automated air-to-air refueling using the hose-and-drogue system, focusing on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and laying the groundwork for future autonomous refueling operations between unmanned aircraft.

Led by Spain, with support from Germany and Belgium, A3RHD-SC2 builds on the achievements of its first phase, A3RHD-SC1, which demonstrated the technical feasibility of automated aerial refueling. This initial phase also developed camera-based tracking of the drogue and receiver aircraft and tested methods to stabilize the drogue during flight.

The second phase focuses on addressing the technical challenges of coordinating multiple unmanned receiver aircraft with a single tanker. Key technologies under development include relative navigation, imaging sensors, aircraft-to-aircraft communications, and data processing for tracking algorithms.

GMV will contribute advanced navigation and data recording capabilities on the drogue side. Building on its Drogue System Recorder (D-SREC), developed during A3RHD-SC1 to collect Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data, GMV will support the development and testing of relative navigation algorithms, enable GNSS data transmission to the tanker aircraft, and implement GNSS antenna selection capabilities.

The project will follow a three-stage validation approach, combining simulations of multiple receiver aircraft operations, laboratory testing using robotic arms to reproduce relative motion, and ground and flight trials to collect operational data. Spain will provide a tanker aircraft for the flight tests, while Germany will contribute a receiver aircraft.

A3RHD-SC2 represents a further step toward more autonomous and efficient aerial refueling operations, supporting the development of next-generation unmanned aviation capabilities for defence applications.