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Product profile

MQ-25A Stingray

MQ-25A Stingray is Boeing carrier-based unmanned aerial refuelling aircraft for the U.S. Navy. It is designed to extend carrier air wing range by taking ov...

Facts

Company
Boeing
Product type
autonomous_drone
Status
production
Primary capability
defense
Website
https://www.boeing.com/defense/mq25

About MQ-25A Stingray

MQ-25A is a carrier-based uncrewed aircraft developed to refuel US Navy fighters and airborne early-warning aircraft. It autonomously taxis, launches, executes a flight plan and lands under mission-system supervision, carrying a hose-and-drogue refuelling store compatible with carrier aviation.

Boeing’s T1 demonstrator refuelled F/A-18, F-35C and E-2D aircraft and completed carrier-deck trials. The first operational MQ-25A flew in April 2026, followed by a second test flight in July, and the programme has entered low-rate initial production.

Market context

https://www.boeing.com/defense/mq25, U.S. Navy carrier aviation, complete_public_profile, First unmanned aerial refueling with a manned receiver aircraft, Milestone C / low-rate initial production, https://www.boeing.com/defense/mq25

Summary

Type: Tanker UAV

Core: Aerial refueling

Function: Transfer fuel

Audience: Armed forces

Specifications

aircraft_class
Carrier-based uncrewed aerial refueling aircraft
autonomy_model
Autonomous taxi, takeoff, flight and landing capability described by Boeing
communication
Secure, interoperable communications for manned-unmanned teaming and complementary aerial-refueling tasking
dimensions
3.0 m / 9.8 ft height spread; 4.8 m / 15.7 ft height folded
height_folded_m
4.79 m m
height_spread_m
2.99 m m
launch_recovery
U.S. Navy carrier-deck integration
length_ft
15.54 m / 51 ft
market_availability
U.S. Navy first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft
operational_environment
Carrier deck and naval aviation environments
overall_length
15.5 m / 51 ft length
payload_options
Aerial refueling mission payload for carrier air wing extension
propulsion
Rolls-Royce AE3700N
wingspan_folded_ft
9.54 m / 31.3 ft
wingspan_ft
22.9 m / 75 ft spread; 9.5 m / 31.3 ft folded
wingspan_spread_ft
22.86 m / 75 ft

Operations

Environment
aerial, carrier_deck, naval_aviation
Primary user
defence_operator, naval_aviation_operator
Role
aerial_refueling, carrier_air_wing_support, unmanned_aviation
Interaction model
supervised_autonomy, mission_planned_autonomy, ground_control_station
Mobility class
aerial_fixed_wing, carrier_based
Product detail
https://www.boeing.com/defense/mq25, U.S. Navy carrier aviation, complete_public_profile, First unmanned aerial refueling with a manned receiver aircraft, Milestone C / low-rate initial production, https://www.boeing.com/defense/mq25

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