The MQ-25 Stingray is the U.S. Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. Designed to operate from aircraft carriers, the Stingray's primary mission is to extend the range of the carrier air wing by providing unmanned aerial refueling.
The first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft
Capabilities and Features
Air Refueling
The first unmanned aircraft in history to refuel another aircraft.
Extending the range of the carrier air wing
MQ-25’s unmanned aerial refueling capability expands the reach of the carrier air wing, and lets manned fighters focus on their primary mission.
Proven Concept
The Boeing MQ-25 T1 test asset refueled three carrier-based aircraft — an F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2D Hawkeye and F-35C Lightning II.
Autonomous Operations
The future of unmanned aircraft carrier aviation.
Enhanced efficiency
As an unmanned aircraft, MQ-25 is capable of taking off, flying and landing without direct human intervention. This autonomy allows for more efficient operations in high-stress environments.
Manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T)
MQ-25 will unlock manned-unmanned teaming for the carrier air wing and will pioneer technologies for seamless integration of future manned and unmanned systems. Boeing has virtually demonstrated an F/A-18 pilot commanding an unmanned MQ-25 to release a refueling drogue and refuel the Super Hornet, using existing communications links on both platforms.
Adaptability
Ready for the mission of today and tomorrow.
Multimission capability
While its primary role is aerial refueling, the MQ-25 is also equipped for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Designed for the future
The MQ-25 was purposely designed to accept new and changing technologies as missions evolve — including machine learning artificial intelligence.
Specifications
| Wingspan (wings spread) | 75 feet (22.9 meters) |
| Wingspan (wings folded) | 31.3 feet (9.5 meters) |
| Length | 51 feet (15.5 meters) |
| Engine | 1 Rolls-Royce AE 3007N engine |
Industry Team
The MQ-25 Industry Team is all-in on delivering this vital aerial refueling capability to help the U.S. Navy extend the range of the carrier air wing. The industry team includes:
Aitech Defense Systems
Astronics
BAE Systems
Collins Aerospace
Cox & Company
Crane Aerospace & Electronics
Cubic
Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions
GE
Harris Corporation
Héroux-Devtek
Honeywell
Innovative Power Solutions
L3Harris Commercial Aviation
Moog Aircraft Group
Parker Hannifin
Raytheon
Rolls-Royce
Triumph Group
News
Program Highlights
Background
The Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset played a crucial role in early learning and discovery and laid the foundation for the U.S. Navy engineering development model (EDM) aircraft currently in production and testing today. Since its inaugural flight in 2019, T1 logged approximately 125 flight hours, helping to accelerate the team's understanding of the aircraft's aerodynamic performance and informing design decisions for both the air vehicle and its software.
Boeing has a rich history of delivering carrier aircraft to the U.S. Navy, spanning over 90 years, from the 1930s Douglas TBD Devastator to the latest-generation F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Boeing has applied all of that experience to the MQ-25 Stingray, bringing the best Boeing has to offer to the U.S. Navy once again.