The U.S. Navy announced its MQ-25A Stingray completed its first test flight on April 25, a key step for unmanned carrier operations.
The first flight left from Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, IL and flew for approximately two hours, officials said. During the flight, U.S. Navy and Boeing Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) controlled the aircraft from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System MD-5 ground control station. The AVPs execute a series of maneuvers and tests, validating the aircraft’s flight controls, engine performance, and handling characteristics.
“Achieving this first flight underscores the strong partnership between the Navy and our industry partners,” Rear Adm. Tony Rossi, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)), said. “The MQ-25A is not just an aircraft: it’s the first step in integrating unmanned aerial refueling onto the carrier deck, directly enabling our manned fighters to fly further and faster. This capability is vital to the future of naval aviation.”
The MQ-25A Stingray is the Navy’s first operations, carrier-based unmanned aircraft system, designed primarily to serve as an aerial refueling tanker. The aircraft will extend the combat range and effective strike capability by taking over the refueling mission from crewed fighters, officials said.
“I am incredibly proud of the team for working tirelessly over the last several months to achieve this milestone,” Capt. Daniel Fucito, Unmanned Carrier Aviation program manager (PMA-268), said. “The successful first flight officially initiates the rigorous flight test program, which will focus on expanding the aircraft’s performance envelope and verifying all mission systems.”
The aircraft will continue to undergo ground control station integration, expanding its flight envelope and verifying its performance parameters prior to its ferry flight to Pax River later this year.