US Air Force edges closer to remotely operating the KC-135 Stratotanker
A KC-135 flying over Mount Rainier, in the US state of Washington. (Photo: USAF)
In a partnership with Reliable Robotics, the US Air Force has been exploring the use of autonomous flight capabilities.
The US Air Force (USAF) has been progressing with its plans to remotely fly its fleet. The service ordered Reliable Robotics to carry out a study to evaluate the integration of the company’s aircraft-agnostic autonomous flight system into large multi-engine aircraft such as the KC-135 Stratotanker.
Reliable Robotics conducted a demonstration in February in California with a Cessna 208 Caravan. The aircraft was controlled by a pilot on the ground, who was responsible for route planning and communications.
It departed from Sacramento McClellan Airport and landed at Hollister Municipal Airport, more than 190km (120 miles) away.
The company's technology was used to
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