Systems and methods for aerial refueling are disclosed. In one embodiment, an aerial refueling system includes a first conduit portion moveably coupled to a second conduit portion and moveable relative to the second conduit portion along a longitudinal axis, and a force absorbing assembly operatively coupled to the first and second conduit portions. The force absorbing assembly includes a first absorber portion and a second absorber portion engaged with the first absorber portion. The first absorber portion is configured to compress when subject to a compression force having a longitudinal component at least approximately aligned with the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal component tending to urge the first conduit portion toward the second conduit portion and causing absorption of at least a portion of the longitudinal component by the first absorber portion until the longitudinal component reaches a first limit. The second absorber portion is configured to compress when the longitudinal component exceeds the first limit.