The United States Navy (US Navy) has confirmed a further setback for its carrier-based MQ-25 Stingray aerial refuelling drone programme: the aircraft will not fly during the remainder of 2025. Under current plans, flight activity has been pushed back to the start of next year. This overturns the expectations voiced by both Boeing officials and Navy personnel, who had hoped that flights would already be under way next year, enabling faster progress in its development.
MQ-25 Stingray testing and flight certification
Quoting sections of the US Navy’s official statement: “Over the past several months, the team completed MQ-25A Stingray structural testing on a static test aircraft, conducted initial engine testing, completed its flight-certified software, and controlled the vehicle from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS). The team is finalising system testing and flight clearance, with the first flight planned once certification is complete and weather conditions permit.”
Expanding on the remaining steps outlined by the US Navy, Boeing stated separately that it had already installed the relevant certified software and carried out engine tests. However, it is still waiting for Lockheed Martin to complete the command programming. Of lesser significance, US analysts have noted that several programmes were affected by the government shutdown of recent weeks and by a strike at Boeing facilities in Illinois, although neither factor has been officially cited.
Previous delays to the MQ-25 Stingray programme
This is not the first delay to affect the MQ-25 Stingray programme, as development of the uncrewed platform has been under way since 2018. Looking back at its history, 2021 was the year in which the most progress was made, including trials from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush. By contrast, there was little news in 2022 and 2023 to suggest major advances, making the original objective of reaching Initial Operational Capability at the beginning of 2025 unattainable.
The US Navy’s future carrier-based refuelling capability
Despite the repeated delays, the drone remains a key system in the US Navy’s future plans, with earlier reports pointing to an intended fleet of at least 76 aircraft. The platform is designed to operate from aircraft carriers and provide a role currently performed by F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters fitted with external tanks - a mission for which they were not designed. The arrival of the MQ-25s could therefore return these aircraft to their original role while also reducing the operational burden placed upon them.
Images used for illustrative purposes only
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