The U.S. Begins Production of the First Batch of MQ-25A "Stingray" Carrier-Based Unmanned Tankers

The U.S. Navy has officially begun production of the first batch of MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned aerial refuelers, aiming to enhance the combat range and endurance of carrier-based aircraft to counter regional denial threats.

Video link:

Full text:

The MQ-25A Stingray is the U.S. Navy's first operational carrier-based drone, specially designed to perform unmanned aerial refueling for carrier-based aircraft, thereby enhancing the combat range, endurance, and flexibility of carrier air wings.

According to Boeing, the MQ-25 T-1 test aircraft has successfully conducted aerial refueling for three types of carrier-based aircraft: the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, and the F-35C Lightning II.

The U.S. Navy issued a press release on September 17 stating that following the successful maiden flight of the MQ-25A Stingray on April 25, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly announced on May 19 that the MQ-25A Stingray had received Milestone C approval, entering the low-rate initial production phase.

The U.S. Department of Defense stated on September 15 that the U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a fixed-price incentive contract worth $562 million for the first low-rate initial production batch of the MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based drones.

This contract not only funds the three drones in the first batch, but also provides advance procurement funding for long-lead-time components to support the production of three MQ-25As in the second batch, with the first deliveries of the initial batch expected to begin in 2029.

A 2024 report by the Congressional Research Service pointed out that the combat radius of the U.S. Navy's existing carrier air wings forces aircraft carriers to operate within the strike range of the People's Liberation Army's anti-ship ballistic missiles or other anti-access/area-denial (A2AD) systems, and the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial refueler is one of the response measures the Navy should adopt.

According to the U.S. Navy, the Stingray can increase the combat range of carrier-based aircraft by approximately 480 to 640 kilometers.

The official MQ-25A program plan includes 76 aircraft, comprising 4 engineering and manufacturing development aircraft and 5 system demonstration test aircraft. Currently, 7 test aircraft are in production.