An aircraft system comprising: a first aircraft having: a grappling device including a support rod which provides mounting support for: an upper gripper operatively attached to a first actuator, wherein the first actuator manipulates the upper gripper through a first link pin attached to a first drive rod; and a lower gripper operatively attached to a second actuator independent from the first actuator, wherein the second actuator manipulates the lower gripper through a second link pin attached to a second drive rod, wherein the first link pin is attached to a first scissor tail extending opposite the upper gripper from a pivot and the second link pin is attached to a second scissor tail extending opposite the lower gripper from the pivot, and the upper gripper and the lower gripper are operatively attached at the pivot on the support rod and configured to move between an open and a closed position to engage a hooking device mounted on a surface of a second aircraft, said hooking device including a ring rotatable from the surface and a third actuator operatively attached to the ring and configured to rotate the ring between a stowed and an extended position, the upper gripper and the lower gripper being additionally configured to pivot together to change a capture angle by asymmetric extension of the first and second drive rods (40a, 40b); and a first controller configured to receive a command, operating the first and second actuators in response to the command to selectively open and close the upper and lower grippers of the grappling device, the controller being configured to receive a second command, to operate the first and second actuators to pivot the grippers (30, 32) and provide grappling at a range of capture angles through asymmetric extension of the first and second drive rods (40a, 40b). an upper gripper operatively attached to a first actuator, wherein the first actuator manipulates the upper gripper through a first link pin attached to a first drive rod; and a lower gripper operatively attached to a second actuator independent from the first actuator, wherein the second actuator manipulates the lower gripper through a second link pin attached to a second drive rod, wherein the first link pin is attached to a first scissor tail extending opposite the upper gripper from a pivot and the second link pin is attached to a second scissor tail extending opposite the lower gripper from the pivot, and the upper gripper and the lower gripper are operatively attached at the pivot on the support rod and configured to move between an open and a closed position to engage a hooking device mounted on a surface of a second aircraft, said hooking device including a ring rotatable from the surface and a third actuator operatively attached to the ring and configured to rotate the ring between a stowed and an extended position, the upper gripper and the lower gripper being additionally configured to pivot together to change a capture angle by asymmetric extension of the first and second drive rods (40a, 40b); and a first controller configured to receive a command, operating the first and second actuators in response to the command to selectively open and close the upper and lower grippers of the grappling device, the controller being configured to receive a second command, to operate the first and second actuators to pivot the grippers (30, 32) and provide grappling at a range of capture angles through asymmetric extension of the first and second drive rods (40a, 40b).