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Just a hint:

Sometimes these programs get canceled because they just don't work. I have warned FReepers to not get too caught up in this drone technology. They are running into significant setbacks when they try to manage some of the things that require a pilot's eyes. I think problems like in-flight refueling may not ever get solved. It may be a piece of cake for a human, but for someone sitting at a desk looking at video, I don't see how one could figure the angles, stick deflections and closures to make a safe hookup. Some things in the cockpit require 'feel' to get right. Sometimes, your ass can tell you what the aircraft is doing a lot faster than your instruments can.

I hear you.

However, they can do unmanned docking in space (granted, the physics are different), and it seems to me if the UMAVs can be landed, then they can be refueled in mid-air.

Tech aside, there is too big a correlation of the huge increase in nonDefense spending and the cancelation of weapon programs.

I know that in the military, the buzz right now is NOT a push to find new advanced weapon programs, but the REAL pressure to the miltiary is to find ways to cut costs.

A simple chart showing the rise in the OMB Superfunction "HR" (mostly social programs) over the last 20 years overlayed on a chart showing the reduction in % of total spending going toward Defense tell the real story.

We have seen steadliy dropping % of total spending going toward the military and a steadily surging rise in % of total spending going toward socialism (Superfunction "HR"). I have studied these numbers and charts an enormous amount of time, and it is clear--socialism is preventing the ability of the USA to defend itself in the near future.

Automated refueling is only a challenge because it is new. they had not even started working on that until very recently. They are due for an automated test flight of it later this year. Yeah it is a challenge but really that one is fairly simple since it involves clear cut decisions and factors. It just needs a very fast computer and really good control laws. It is not as hard as artificial decision making. It is a straight forward problem akin to auto-land with an autopilot. People do need to avoid thinking UAVs will replace manned fighters anytime soon. Too many combat decisions need people in the look. They will be a powerful complement and force multiplier but not a replacement. Thinking it is a replacement is the kind of short sighted thinking that removed the guns from fighters when guided missiles got common :P