Production prototype of the unmanned tanker aircraft MQ-25 Stingray built by Boeing has begun taxi tests in the USA.
In a statement on January 30 said Boeing and the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) that taxi tests are being conducted at MidAmerica Airport near St. Louis, Missouri, where Boeing‘s production facility is located, according to The Aviationist.
This is one of nine Stingrayswhich Boeing is building for the Navy “to undergo static, wear and flight tests to ensure durability and airworthiness,” the company said on Sept. 14, 2023.
The first flight of Stingray was moved to early 2026, delaying the Navy’s original schedule of late 2025. The drone’s primary mission will be to relieve F/A-18E/F Super Hornet– the fleet from refueling tasks.
MQ-25 will also have a secondary mission of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Any platform with a secondary ISR capability always acts as a force multiplier by augmenting the fleet’s air patrol missions and offloading larger manned platforms.
The Navy had previously stated a goal to make 60% of its air wing unmanned, to complement both existing platforms and future F/A-XX. The unmanned tanker MQ-25 Stingray will serve as a key system for future manned-unmanned team operations (MUM-T).
#MQ25 on the move!
The first @USNavy MQ-25 Stingray recently moved off the production line to our static test facility. This is the first of nine Stingrays to be put through static, fatigue and flight tests to ensure durability and airworthiness. pic.twitter.com/2UvYoKnK7G
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) September 14, 2023
Photo and video: Boeing / X @BoeingDefense. This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
