Researchers in China say two unmanned drones completed autonomous aerial refueling using AI-based vision systems.
China has crossed a new threshold in unmanned aviation. Scientists at Northwestern Polytechnical University have confirmed a successful autonomous aerial refueling test between two unmanned aircraft.The experiment moves China closer to long-endurance drone missions that operate without human pilots, even under combat-like conditions.
The test involved two unidentified UAVs flying in tight formation at high speed. One aircraft acted as a tanker.The other served as the receiver. The receiver located, tracked, and docked with the tanker on its own, despite glare, occlusion, and harsh lighting.Autonomous refueling milestoneThe refueling system relied on machine vision rather than radar or satellite guidance. Engineers mounted a dual-camera near-infrared system on the receiving drone.They placed eight near-infrared LEDs on the drogue, or fuel basket, of the tanker.The system used deep learning to detect and track the drogue in real time.It performed under direct sunlight, backlighting, and partial visual blockage. Even when two LEDs were obscured, the system retained accuracy.The team reported a detection success rate above 99 percent. Positioning accuracy reached the centimetre scale. The drones completed docking during formation flight without human intervention.“Two aircraft kept formation flight … the receiver aircraft used the visual system to detect the drogue and calculate relative pose, and successfully completed the docking between the refueling probe and the drogue,” Bu Shuhui and colleagues wrote, as reported by South China Morning Post .Their research paper described multiple test scenarios designed to mimic operational stress.Jiu Tian connectionThe breakthrough carries weight beyond the lab. Northwestern Polytechnical University maintains deep ties to China’s advanced drone programme, including the heavy-duty Jiu Tian platform.Jiu Tian completed its maiden flight on December 12. Soon after, the university confirmed its role in developing core technologies for the aircraft. Jiu Tian can reportedly carry more than 200 loitering munitions.The drone has an official range of 7,000 kilometres .That range alone cannot reach the continental United States from China.Aerial refueling changes that calculation.With in-flight refueling, analysts say the effective strike radius could double.East Coast cities such as Washington, New York, and Miami would then fall within theoretical reach.The platform could also launch swarms of AI-guided drones closer to US shores.US defence planning has often focused on ballistic missiles and crewed bombers.Large, refueled drone fleets add a different challenge. A coordinated launch of hundreds of loitering munitions could strain existing air defences.The United States pursues similar technology. The Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray aims to refuel crewed aircraft, not strike autonomously. China’s approach appears more focused on unmanned persistence and mass.Northwestern Polytechnical University already supports programmes tied to hypersonic weapons.The United States has placed the institution under sanctions. Beijing says it remains a frequent target of cyberattacks.He Zhibin, a Chinese space scientist, framed Jiu Tian in blunt terms. He spoke at a Guangzhou meeting on November 22.He called the drone a “sword aiming at the throat of warmongers, especially those in the United States”.He added that each Jiu Tian drone can carry hundreds of tactical missiles.The researchers detailed the work in the journal Systems Engineering and Electronics in a peer-reviewed paper titled “Drogue Detection and Localisation Methodology for UAV Autonomous Aerial Refuelling“, dated December 9.
China Unmanned Drones Drone Refueling Jiu Tian Drone Military Uavs Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
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