Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, the Pentagon’s emerging technologies specialist, is looking into outfitting aerial refueling tankers as “Airborne Energy Wells” to recharge battery-powered drones. The agency has put out a request to industry players as it seeks information on the feasibility of using modified manned tanker aircraft to wirelessly transmit power, via laser beams, to unmanned aerial vehicles, in what could be a potentially ground-breaking development.
DARPA recently published a request for information (RFI) that calls for industry feedback on the proposal to outfit the Air Force’s existing KC-135 and KC-46 Pegasus tankers with “an underwing power beaming pod,” although it doesn’t rule out other options, too.
Such a pod would be required to contain a continuous-wave laser generating at least 100 kilowatts, and there’s a requirement for a thermal control unit that integrates the laser into the tanker. The solution would also be expected to provide beam forming and steering of the laser energy “covering a nearly hemispherical field of regard,” to ensure the power gets to where it’s needed.
There is also a requirement to find out more about ways of generating the power to start with, aboard the tanker, using either existing or new equipment.
More broadly, the RFI also wants to know from firms whether they consider themselves able to build and test the required components and subsystems for the Airborne Energy Well, as well as to adapt existing hardware. The deadline for submissions is July 11.
As the primary driver behind the Airborne Energy Well initiative, the RFI outlines the need for UAVs to be able to fly further and for longer, replicating the advantages conventional tanker aircraft provide to the manned fleet. In turn, the drones would be able to have reduced organic energy storage, allowing them to carry more weapons or sensors, for example, or they would just benefit from extended endurance without having to land. The all-electric drones that are in line to benefit from Airborne Energy Wells currently tend to be relatively small in size. However, larger UAVs are increasingly on the agenda and having the ability to top up battery cells while airborne could help address the problems of endurance that relate to electric drones
