The Navy signed a $562 million contract with Boeing Monday to begin production of the MQ-25A Stingray, America’s first unmanned aerial refueling tanker and the service’s first operational carrier-based drone.
The fixed-price incentive deal launches Low Rate Initial Production of the aircraft that will extend the strike range of carrier air wings operating in contested waters thousands of miles from U.S. shores. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced the production decision during Senate Armed Services Committee testimony in May.
Why Unmanned Tankers Matter for Carrier Operations
The Stingray addresses a critical gap in naval aviation. Currently, manned F/A-18 Super Hornets perform tanking duties, pulling frontline fighters away from combat missions. Each Super Hornet configured as a tanker represents roughly $70 million in strike capability sitting on tanker duty instead of hitting targets or defending the fleet.
The MQ-25A will free those fighters to return to their primary roles while providing 15,000 pounds of fuel at 500 nautical miles from the carrier. That extended reach becomes essential as China deploys longer-range anti-ship missiles designed to push American carriers farther from Taiwan and the South China Sea.
From Testing to Fleet Deployment
Boeing’s Stingray completed its first refueling of an F/A-18 in 2021 and has logged extensive test flights from both shore bases and the carrier deck. The unmanned tanker operates autonomously through most of its mission profile, including carrier launches and recoveries, though human operators maintain override authority.
Low Rate Initial Production typically produces small numbers of aircraft for operational testing before the Pentagon commits to full-scale manufacturing. The Navy has not disclosed how many Stingrays this first lot will deliver or when the aircraft will reach operational squadrons.
The contract represents a bet that unmanned systems can handle complex carrier operations reliably enough to stake combat missions on their performance. If the Stingray proves its worth, similar unmanned platforms could follow for strike, surveillance, and electronic warfare roles — fundamentally changing how America projects power from the sea.
Key Points
- Navy awarded Boeing $562 million to begin production of MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tankers
- Aircraft will free manned fighters from refueling duty and extend carrier strike range to counter Chinese anti-ship missiles
- Stingray becomes Defense Department’s first unmanned tanker and Navy’s first operational carrier-based drone
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/09/15/us-navy-boeing-ink-first-mq-25a-stingray-production-contract/ – September 15, 2026
