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 ; 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 and provide grappling at a range of capture angles through asymmetric extension of the first and second drive rods . 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 ; 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 and provide grappling at a range of capture angles through asymmetric extension of the first and second drive rods . <EOS>