European Defence Agency launches €8 million phase two to automate in‑flight refuelling

The European Defence Agency announced the start of phase two of a research programme to automate in‑flight refuelling using a probe and basket system, with an estimated budget of 8 million euros. The programme involves Spain, Germany and Belgium through companies and centres such as Airbus Defence and Space, GMV, DLR, AES Technology, ScioTeq and the Instituto von Karman. Tests will include simulations with multiple receivers, laboratory trials with robotic arms, ground tests and flight tests using an A330 MRTT as the tanker and a DLR experimental aircraft as the receiver, and the system could be applied to fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aircraft.