Date of Award

3-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Brian Lunday, PhD

Abstract

With growing tensions in the European theatre and Indo-Pacific theatre, the constraints of aerial refueling impede the missions of Air Mobility Command and USTRANSCOM in their execution of both the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. Introducing and integrating semi-autonomous aerial refueling aircraft is a logical next step due to advantages in endurance, survivability, runway requirements, and fuel offloading capacity. This research frames the Aerial Refueling Asset Basing and Assignment Problem with two model approaches: a baseline model and a fuel shuttle concept model. Whereas the former model considers instances with only manned refuelers or only semi-autonomous refuelers, the latter model examines semi-autonomous tankers working in coordination with manned aircraft. Given a realistic scenario, a set of refueling locations, a set of available tanker bases, and a set of available tanker types, both models minimize the number of tankers and their corresponding transit distance while meeting fuel demand and operational constraints of the tankers and tanker bases. The models identify ideal basing and tanker refueling assignments for a 24-hour period of operations. The selection of basing, routes, and assignments provide operational performance metrics such as sorties per day, fleet size, fuel burned.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENS-MS-23-M-118

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed.

Approved for public release. Case number on file.

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