Air Mobility Plan, 2008 - The Black Vault

Air Refueling Roadmap
Automated air refueling capability is in development and, when fielded, will permit refueling of
unmanned aircraft. These same technologies could be adapted to manned aircraft and improve air
refueling mission effectiveness during low-visibility flight conditions.
Air refueling is a worldwide mission and must be capable of operating amidst a wide range of threat
systems. With the proliferation of threat systems, air refueling aircraft are no longer able to simply
avoid hostile environments. Air refueling aircraft must be able to counter radar and infrared guided
systems, light anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), and small arms fire. Directed energy weapons, including
lasers and radio frequency weapons, represent an emerging threat to the air refueling fleet, especially
during ground operations as well as takeoff and landings. The air refueling fleet of the future must be
equipped to survive in these environments.
Additional fleetwide improvements are planned to provide
the capability of automatic identification of all aircraft.
Modification of cockpit, boom operator station, and aircraft
external lighting with night vision imaging system (NVIS)
compatible lighting will improve crew situational awareness
and enhance operations in tactical environments. Over the
long term, we should look at the capabilities that a more
survivable tanker aircraft, like the Advanced Joint Air
Combat System-Tanker (AJACS-T), would have on our
strike operations.
Tanker aircraft, forward-deployed to the theater, are reliant upon the availability of ground-based
navigation aids for approaches and landings to their operating bases during low-weather conditions.
An autonomous approach and landing capability, as is envisioned for airlift aircraft, would permit
tanker operations, regardless of approach aid status. Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hardening and
the ability to rapidly start engines, take off, and navigate in a GPS-denied environment will improve
aircraft and mission survivability.
Improved connectivity will provide the capability to seamlessly and automatically transmit and
receive secure, nonsecure line-of-sight (LOS), and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) voice, video, and
data to permit near-real-time information flow and improved decision-making. This includes timely
information transfer of aircraft systems performance data, mission data (i.e., AR offloads and cargo/
passenger), aircrew flight times, and currency data. Enhanced automated systems will also provide
the capability for transfer of dynamic retasking information, common operating picture, and predictive
battlespace awareness.
The phased solutions to our air refueling capability needs are planned for the next 25 years and
are shown as the milestones that follow. The milestones, in the short term, reflect funded, mature
programs that are ready for transition. Milestones that are planned for the out-years are based upon
technologically feasible capabilities, not funded with the current Program Objective Memorandum
(POM) or which require additional research or study before final adaptation by the MAF.
Milestones
(b)(5)
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FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO)
OCT 07