| The technology for rearming aircraft with | | | | respects to airborne refueling, with a number |
| weapons in midair might soon be a reality. | | | | of notable modifications. Far Technologies' |
| This revolutionary technology would enable | | | | system comprises a rearming plane (a C-130, |
| combat missions, currently requiring dozens | | | | C-130c, C-17, or even a C-5) with an internal |
| of aircraft, to be performed by very few, and | | | | bomb storage area and loading device |
| to carry out numerous missions by unmanned | | | | consisting of a large aft door with a |
| combat aircraft without returning to base. | | | | modified remote-driven robotic arm (boom) |
| Airborne rearming might prove to be as | | | | equipped with a day-night camera as well as |
| significant as the airborne refueling | | | | sensors, and, on the attack aircraft, a |
| revolution that occurred half a century ago. | | | | special smart pylon to receive the arms from |
| | | | the boom. Each C-130c would be able to carry |
| KB-29M performing mid-air refuling (Credit: | | | | a payload of up to sixteen 2,000 lb (907 kg) |
| U.S. Air Force Museum) | | | | bombs (such as an MK-84), while larger |
| | | | aircraft would easily be able to rearm a full |
| In 1921, Alexander P. de Seversky, a Russian | | | | squadron of planes (A C-17 could potentially |
| pilot who immigrated to the U.S., was the | | | | carry up to seventy MK-84s and a C-5, around |
| first to apply for and receive a patent for | | | | 100). |
| midair refueling. Two years later, the U.S. | | | | |
| army began operational testing of midair | | | | Rearming mechanism |
| refueling, but although successful, another | | | | |
| decade passed before the necessary technology | | | | At present, manned attack missions may take |
| and technique were perfected and midair | | | | up to several hours, and most of this time is |
| refueling became routine. World War II | | | | spent flying to and from the target. By |
| witnessed an even greater improvement in the | | | | employing a refueling and rearming aircraft |
| field of midair refueling technology, but the | | | | positioned 50 to 150 miles from the target, |
| increase in internal aircraft fuel capacities | | | | the efficiency of an air strike could be |
| reduced the need for this technology at the | | | | doubled with only a slight increase in time |
| time. With the introduction of "fuel-hungry" | | | | and flight distance. While manned aircraft |
| jet-powered bombers in the post-war years, | | | | could benefit from airborne rearming in |
| the requirement for aerial refueling became | | | | certain scenarios, unmanned combat air |
| apparent once again. Since existing refueling | | | | vehicles (UCAVs) currently under development |
| methods proved inadequate for refueling jet | | | | could theoretically gain much more from such |
| bombers, the Boeing Company began testing the | | | | a technology. Unlike manned aircraft, UCAVs |
| "Boeing boom" system, in which a wide pipe | | | | can currently stay aloft for days, and in the |
| connected to the rear of a modified B-29 | | | | future, weeks or even months at a time, |
| fitted with small wings, was lowered and | | | | performing countless refueling and rearming |
| "flown" to a connector on the receiver | | | | rounds. Such a capability does not yet exist |
| aircraft. This new system permitted the | | | | and would require some level of automatic |
| transfer of over six-times as much fuel per | | | | operation, similar to that currently under |
| minute and since the 1950's, further | | | | development for aerial refueling; if |
| improvements to the boom system have | | | | successful, however, it would dramatically |
| increased its efficiency and safety. But | | | | increase the flexibility of air power |
| although computers and a variety of sensors | | | | utilization in future conflicts. |
| were integrated in recent years, the | | | | |
| refueling system remains humanly-operated. | | | | A comprehensive study, conducted by Professor |
| Several companies world-wide are developing | | | | Asher Tishler from Tel Aviv University, on |
| automatic technologies for aerial refueling, | | | | the logistical, economic, and operational |
| designed to further increase the safety of | | | | aspects of ABRA outlined a number of benefits |
| this complex procedure. | | | | over conventional rearming: (1) the number of |
| | | | bombs delivered in a given time frame could |
| Whereas aerial refueling increases the range | | | | be quadrupled in certain situations, (2) a |
| of an aircraft almost indefinitely, bombers | | | | great cost reduction would be incurred, due |
| still must return to base for rearming as | | | | to the reduction in the number of aircraft |
| they are limited in the amount of weapons | | | | needed to perform each mission, (3) an |
| they carry. However, when the target is | | | | operational capability could be maintained |
| situated hundreds of miles away from a | | | | even while airfields and carriers are under |
| friendly base, precious time and resources | | | | attack, (4) a reduction in aircraft response |
| are lost on flights to base for rearming. | | | | time whenever a new target is located, and, |
| Furthermore, in some cases the political | | | | although not explicitly mentioned in |
| situation precludes the use of friendly | | | | Tishler's report, (5) the potential for |
| military bases near the operating theater. | | | | aerial conquest, in which an aircraft |
| | | | (typically a UAV or UCAV) occupies a specific |
| Bombs inside a rearming plane | | | | area of the enemy's airspace and maintains it |
| | | | for an unlimited period to observe enemy |
| To resolve these problems, the Israeli | | | | movements and eliminate all relevant targets |
| company Far Technologies developed the | | | | in that area. |
| Airborne Rearming System (ABRA; currently | | | | |
| patent pending) in conjunction with the | | | | TFOT recently interviewed Nir Padan, CEO of |
| Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) engineering | | | | Far Technologies as well as a distinguished |
| group that conducted preliminary system | | | | Israeli test pilot, who elaborated on ABRA ca |
| design. The ABRA concept is similar in many | | | | dabra. |