A2RM Design Challenge

Air-to-Air Refueling Mechanism (A2RM) Digital Design Challenge #tacticaltanking #PlatformAgnosticPetrol #BoomBuddyTanking #AutonomousAerialRefueling

BLUF

The United States Air Force (USAF) seeks in-flight, platform agnostic fuel transfer hardware technology that can provide fuel to both receptacle and probe equipped receivers. The USAF is interested in any and all capabilities that can achieve the desired outcome of enabling Department of Defense (DoD) and joint coalition aircraft the ability to transfer fuel from legacy and future aircraft to legacy and future tactical aircraft. Initial scoping for design considerations should focus on a preliminary use for the F-15.

OVERVIEW

The USAF aims to leverage recent technological advancements in automated aerial refueling to modernize fuel transfer systems for smaller, more flexible refueling capabilities. These new systems will enable the USAF to perform tactical refueling missions akin to the USN’s buddy tanking, enable automated aerial refueling capabilities, and provide flexibility for mission planners & joint strike packages, to name a few. This AFWERX Challenge seeks an in-flight, extendible, modular, and stowable air refueling apparatus that is capable of a boom/receptacle refueling (at a minimum), with a desire for dual boom/receptacle and probe/drogue refueling. The subsystem is intended to remain as platform agnostic as possible, with a preliminary use case on legacy 4th gen fighters (F-15/F-18). The capability is primarily intended to refuel medium to small “fighter” sized aircraft.
The USAF looks to acquire digital designs for feasibility and cost studies and/or experimentation, as well as developed solutions. In either case, the USAF is interested in understanding all underlying designs and technologies upon which the solution relies; to include fuel transfer mechanism hardware, relative navigation sensors, and autonomy.

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OBJECTIVES

There are two objectives of the Air-to-Air Refueling Mechanism Design Challenge: 1. The first objective of this AFWERX Challenge is to digitally design a new fuel transfer mechanism up to a conceptual design review (CoDR), at minimum, that is compact, modular and affordable for a significantly broader range of platforms at an acceptable tolerance to performance and safety relative to design intent.
2. The second objective is to expand the list of potential vendors and solution providers of aerial refueling subsystems.

CONTEXT

The USAF is interested in new solutions and enhancements to existing solutions and/or