GROUND HANDLING APPARATUS FOR UNMANNED TACTICAL AIRCRAFT

A system for servicing unmanned aircraft includes an aircraft service area located adjacent a landing strip, a track and follower mechanism, and a plurality of stations disposed along the track and follower mechanism including a first station having apparatus for connecting the aircraft to the track and follower mechanism, a second station for reading information from and to a computer located onboard the aircraft, a third station for removing old weapons from and securing new weapons to the aircraft, and a fourth station for refueling the aircraft. The aircraft is able to move under its own power from the runway to the aircraft service area following landing on the runway, and from the aircraft service area to the runway for takeoff following servicing of the aircraft. A differential GPS apparatus is used to navigate the aircraft from the runway to the aircraft service area and the apparatus for connecting the aircraft to the track means at the first station includes apparatus for engaging a front wheel of the aircraft.