U.S. Navy's "Stingray" Unmanned Aerial Refueling Aircraft Makes Its First Flight

According to a report by Reference News Network on April 30, the U.S. Navy's MQ-25A "Stingray" unmanned refueling aircraft conducted its first flight on the 25th, marking an early step towards operating a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft on aircraft carriers in the future.

According to the U.S. Navy, the two-hour flight began at Boeing's production facility in Mascoutah, Illinois. The "Stingray" is an unmanned, remotely operated aerial refueling aircraft. It will take off from Nimitz-class or Ford-class aircraft carriers, carrying over 14,000 pounds (approximately 6.4 tons) of fuel to fly 500 nautical miles to refuel F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets. The "Stingray" will then return to the carrier for refueling to execute more missions.

Currently, aerial refueling from aircraft carriers is performed by manned F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrier-based fighter jets. The addition of the "Stingray" will allow more manned aircraft to be used for combat or to perform other roles during missions.

Major General Tony Rossi, head of the Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons Program Executive Office, said: "The MQ-25A is not just an aircraft: it is the first step in integrating unmanned aerial refueling onto the carrier deck, directly enabling our manned fighter jets to fly farther and faster." Boeing stated in a release that the MQ-25A unmanned refueling aircraft is a key breakthrough for the U.S. Navy in integrating drones on the carrier deck, laying the foundation for future cooperation between manned and unmanned fighter aircraft.

On the 25th, Navy and Boeing aircraft operators controlled the "Stingray" from a ground control station, completing flight control, engine performance, and operational tests. Colonel Daniel Fucito, head of the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program, said that the "Stingray" will now undergo more rigorous testing aimed at expanding the aircraft's performance boundaries and ensuring all systems required for aerial refueling missions operate stably.

After additional testing at Boeing, the "Stingray" will head to Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland to prepare for carrier compatibility certification. The "Stingray" unmanned aircraft that made its maiden flight is the first of four engineering development model aircraft delivered to the Navy under an $805 million contract.

The U.S. Navy's budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, released last week, includes the procurement of three MQ-25A "Stingray" aircraft. (Translated by Liu Xiaoyan)