US’ 250th anniversary: MQ-25 Stingray boards aircraft carrier for July 4 celebrations
Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray has landed on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier for the first time in five years. This marks another step toward making the world’s first operational carrier-based uncrewed aerial refueling aircraft a reality.
Photos released by the U.S. Navy on June 29 show the Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test aircraft on the USS Nimitz, demonstrating steady progress as the Navy prepares to use the autonomous tanker later this decade.
The aircraft last completed deck handling trials on the USS George H.W. Bush in 2021. Its return comes as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, and the drone features special markings for the event.
Test aircraft returns with a new appearance
The MQ-25 T1 demonstrator was seen parked on the USS Nimitz flight deck near the ship’s No. 3 catapult. This time, it has the US Navy’s standard fleet gray paint instead of the orange markings it had during testing in 2021.
The drone was parked next to four Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets. Two Northrop Grumman C-2 Greyhound aircraft were on the carrier’s first two catapults.
Boeing said this deployment marks a historic milestone for the country.
“To honor the United States’ 250th anniversary, the MQ-25A T1 prototype is aboard the USS Nimitz, offering a glimpse of the Navy’s carrier air wing of the future,” Boeing said.
After finishing the FLEETEX 250 international naval exercise on July 29, the USS Nimitz is expected to head to New York with the MQ-25 on board for a naval review during the anniversary celebrations.
Production program continues to advance
The T1 demonstrator can fly from land bases, but it has never taken off from or landed on an aircraft carrier. It is also not expected to fly during this deployment.
Boeing is now focusing more on the production-standard MQ-25. The first production aircraft started flight testing in April at the company’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.
The program reached a major milestone in May when it received Milestone C approval from the Pentagon. This lets Boeing start low-rate initial production later this year. The company currently has eight MQ-25 aircraft at different stages of production.
Delayed timeline but growing capability
The US Navy first expected the MQ-25 to be ready for operations in 2027. New budget documents now set that goal for 2029. The Navy needs three combat-ready aircraft and trained crews able to deploy with the fleet.
The Navy plans to buy at least 76 MQ-25 aircraft to help carrier air wings with aerial refueling missions. Today, those missions are handled by F/A-18 Super Hornets, which do these missions as “buddy tankers,” which means fewer fighters are available for combat.
When it becomes operational, the MQ-25 will launch from carriers on its own, refuel other aircraft in the air, and land back on the ship. To get ready, the US Navy has begun installing specialized control stations on its carriers, setting the stage for routine uncrewed tanker operations at sea.
