WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Navy conducted a preliminary test connecting an aircraft carrier at sea to a Boeing MQ-25A Stingray uncrewed tanker aircraft, the service announced. Crew members aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, operating underway in the Pacific Ocean, established a connection with an MQ-25A test aircraft located thousands of miles away at Boeing’s Mascoutah, Illinois, facility. The connection was completed beyond line of sight via a low Earth orbit satellite network as part of ongoing efforts to validate control procedures for the uncrewed aerial refueler.
Establishing remote command and control over long distances is a key operational requirement for the MQ-25A, which is designed to provide in-flight air-to-air refueling for carrier-based strike aircraft. By extending the range of combat jets, the uncrewed tanker aims to allow aircraft carriers to operate farther offshore, mitigating risks posed by anti-ship strike capabilities from adversaries such as China. To date, two of the Navy’s 11 aircraft carriers have received the MD-5C ground control station system required to operate the aircraft.
The test follows Boeing’s receipt of a $562 million low-rate initial production contract in September for Lot 1 aircraft and long-lead items for Lot 2. Boeing currently has 14 of the uncrewed tankers under firm order out of a planned Navy fleet of 76 aircraft, which will include 67 operational jets and nine test models. The Navy expects the MQ-25A to reach initial operational capability in 2029.
