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