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Mq 25 Stingray

All articles tagged with #mq 25 stingray

technology3 hours ago•5 min saved

MQ-25 Stingray Flies for First Time, Paving Way for Carrier-Based Refueling

The U.S. Navy’s production-representative MQ-25 Stingray completed its first flight on April 25, 2026 at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, moving from ground testing to flight testing and setting up an IOC target of FY2027. Designed to perform carrier-based aerial refueling (delivering about 14,000–16,000 lb of fuel over 500 nm) and potentially ISR tasks, the program plans nine aircraft for testing and fielding. Boeing has opened a dedicated production facility to support LRIP, while the program continues to address schedule slips and cost considerations as it advances toward integrating unmanned aircraft into the carrier air wing.

via The Aviationist|

#aerial-refueling #carrier-aviation #mq-25-stingray

defense10 days ago•7 min saved

Army Considers In-Flight Refueling for MV-75A Cheyenne II With Unmanned Tanker Support

The U.S. Army is evaluating equipping its MV-75A Cheyenne II tiltrotors with probe-and-drogue in-flight refueling and is eyeing unmanned tankers, notably the Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray, to extend the aircraft’s range. A special-operations configuration with built-in refueling is planned for the 160th SOAR, while conventional MV-75As may or may not receive the capability. The Army currently has no organic tanker capacity, and there is no fixed timeline for first flight or production, with fielding timelines shifting as joint and unmanned tanker concepts are explored.

via The War Zone|

#aerial-refueling #defense #in-flight-refueling

defense-technology2 years ago•7 min saved

"MQ-25 Stingray Tanker Faces Schedule Delays and Risks Amid Inspector General Critique"

The U.S. Navy's plans for the MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone are facing delays and risks, according to a report by the Pentagon's watchdog. Concerns have been raised that the Navy is moving too quickly in its development of the program, potentially compromising operational capability requirements and increasing costs. Boeing has been awarded an additional $36 million to address component obsolescence in six subsystems. The MQ-25 program aims to extend the range of carrier air wings and reduce the burden on existing aircraft, while also contributing to the Navy's goal of having 60% of its carrier air wings unmanned by 2040. The program has already experienced significant delays and cost increases.

via The War Zone|

#boeing #defense-technology #delay