A US Navy official has confirmed that the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial refueler will begin flying in 2025, ahead of its planned integration into aircraft carrier operations by 2026.
Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces, recently told Breaking Defense that the unmanned platform is set for carrier integration next year, making its initial flights a top priority.
Cheever added that the MQ-25’s integration will enable manned-unmanned teaming, allowing aircraft to extend their range without the need to land for refueling.
“We’re going after that thing in a big way so we can do manned-unmanned teaming off an aircraft carrier and that is a different world,” he explained. “It opens up the future of sixth-gen collaborative combat aircraft and everything that comes after it.”
The official, also known as the “Air Boss,” expressed confidence in the timeline despite the challenges of landing unmanned platforms on a carrier’s flight deck.
“[I’m] pretty excited for that,” Cheever remarked. “We need that capability and we need it this year to start flying.”
About the MQ-25
The MQ-25 Stingray is set to become the world’s first carrier-based unmanned aerial refueler, supporting the US Navy’s Carrier Air Wing and Carrier Strike Group.
The drone can carry up to 15,000 pounds (6,804 kilograms) of fuel, enough to extend the range of multiple aircraft, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and F-35C fighters.
Though not designed for speed, the MQ-25 has an operational range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,778 km/1,726 miles).
It can also support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
In February 2024, the US Navy received its first MQ-25 from Boeing for testing and evaluation.