Automated Aerial Refueling refers to the Air Force Research Laboratory program AAR. The AAR Program is researching methods for autonomous refueling of manned and unmanned aircraft. The program was started in 2004 at the AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate. The initial program was the evaluation of technologies that could be used for AAR. The key new concept is the use of precision GPS.
The AAR program has since held several flight tests. The picture DDD is from the first flight test in 2005. In this test simple station keeping maneuvers were conducted. The important factors were the software and communication systems that kept the aircraft at the proper altitude and speed.
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