U.S. Navy Awards Boeing $562 Million for MQ-25A Stingray
The U.S. Navy has signed a $562 million contract with Boeing to begin low-rate initial production of the MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned tanker
The U.S. Navy and Boeing have signed a $562 million contract to begin building the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refueler. This initial production lot funds three aircraft and paves the way for fleet integration starting in 2029.
This landmark agreement is a fixed-price incentive contract for Lot 1 Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). It also includes advanced procurement funding for long-lead components to support a second lot of three more aircraft. The contract follows the program's recent Milestone C approval, which formally moved it from development into production.
Program Milestones and Testing
The production decision was enabled by a successful first flight of the MQ-25A from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. That flight lasted roughly two hours. The aircraft demonstrated autonomous taxi, takeoff, flight, and landing while validating basic flight controls and engine performance under ground control station commands.
Transforming Carrier Operations
The Stingray is positioned as the world's first operational, carrier-based unmanned aircraft designed for refueling. Its primary mission is to absorb routine aerial refueling duties currently handled by crewed F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. This shift will free those tactical aircraft and their vital pylons for strike missions. The Navy states this will extend the operational reach, flexibility, and lethality of the Carrier Strike Group.
Aircraft Specifications and Capability
According to the source report from Naval News, the MQ-25A is designed to meet strict performance metrics for carrier operations. Its core requirement is to deliver a significant fuel load to tactical jets at an extended range from the carrier.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 51 feet |
| Wingspan | 75 feet (folds to 31.3 feet) |
| Engine | Single Rolls-Royce AE 3007N turbofan |
| Engine Thrust | Over 10,000 pounds |
| Fuel Delivery | 14,000 to 16,000 pounds |
| Operational Range | 500 nautical miles (approx. 926 km) from carrier |
Future Development and Potential
With the production line now active, the Navy and Boeing team is focused on mitigating technical risks and preparing operator training programs. The program will proceed toward subsequent full-rate production decisions. The report also notes that scale models of the MQ-25 have demonstrated armed configurations carrying Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM). This shows what Naval News describes as a broader shift toward expanding carrier strike reach through uncrewed capabilities, though the aircraft was originally designed primarily as a tanker.
