Spaceplane Aerial Refueling System
Optional aerial-refueling capability for POLARIS spaceplanes and hypersonic aircraft, plus dedicated uncrewed tanker aircraft.
Technical specifications
- Refuel media
- Kerosene, potentially liquid oxygen
- Program sponsor
- BAAINBw (since 2024)
- Demonstrators
- ALEDA (simulated tanker), Mini MIRA II (receiver), ORCA (scaled tanker, in manufacturing)
- Flight heritage
- Numerous fully automated formation test flights completed
- TRL
- 5 (formation test flights conducted, tanker demonstrator in manufacturing)
About
POLARIS is developing optional aerial-refueling capability for its spaceplanes and hypersonic aircraft, supporting kerosene and potentially liquid oxygen transfer in flight. This capability fundamentally extends the operational envelope of a spaceplane: enabling global operation, launch into any orbital inclination, greater mission flexibility and safety, and increased usable payload.
Development has been supported by the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment (BAAINBw) since 2024. POLARIS has already conducted numerous fully automated formation test flights pairing a simulated tanker aircraft (ALEDA) with a receiver demonstrator (Mini MIRA II). In parallel, the company is developing its own uncrewed tanker aircraft; the first scaled tanker demonstrator, ‘ORCA’, is currently in the manufacturing phase.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
