Specialists at the Air Force Center of the Russian Zhukovsky Air Force Academy received a patent on Tuesday for special technology to refuel drones in flight. This technology allows drones to be refueled automatically in the air, in any weather, both day and night, enhancing the effectiveness of reconnaissance and strike drones and increasing their flight time.
According to the patent certificate, this technology can also be used on both civilian and military manned aircraft, thereby reducing the burden on the flight crew. The refueling process is achieved through a drone-operated tanker equipped with apparatus for the refueling drone, which includes a fueling device, a hose, a cone, a fuel level gauge, a control block for the operation, and a special sensor for docking.
Russian engineers believe that a similar system developed in the United States is less effective than the Russian system, pointing out that the American system is difficult to use at night and in poor weather conditions.
