The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 unmanned aerial tanker, Stingray will start test flights in 2025, with operational carrier-based missions expected from 2026.
Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, the Navy’s top operational aviator confirmed this at the West 2025 conference in San Diego on 30 January.
He stressed that the unmanned tanker would meet its timeline to set the foundation for developing future sixth-generation collaborative combat aircraft.
Enhancing fleet operations
The MQ-25 will operate as a refueling platform for the Navy’s strike fighter fleet, easing the burden on F/A-18 Super Hornets, which also operate as aerial refuelers.
The U.S. Navy is looking to compete with the growing reach of adversary air defenses in the Pacific. Thus, the new aircraft is designed to extend the range and persistence of carrier-based operations.
The Stingray will provide refueling services to support long-range operations at sea where access to land-based tankers is limited. Also, the Stingray will offer intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
There is increasing speculation that future variants of the aircraft could grow its role to include standoff strike capabilities, further enhancing utility in both combat and support missions.
Boeing secured the MQ-25 contract in 2018, leveraging work from a previous unmanned carrier-based program.
The aircraft was scheduled to commence operations in 2024, but program delays pushed the target into fiscal 2025. Boeing has also conducted in-house prototype test flights, but the Navy will conduct its flight tests later this year.
Shifting towards unmanned vehicles
The Navy’s general vision for future carrier air wings includes a shift toward more unmanned platforms, with the long-term goal of making up to 60% of its air wings autonomous.
The launch of MQ-25 marks the first step toward this transformation, with future unmanned systems expected to take on extra combat and support roles.
Despite challenges related to integrating unmanned aircraft into carrier operations, Cheever remains optimistic.
He said he would allow the weapons tactics instructors to figure out how to operate the aerial tanker smoothly.