Will Unmanned Refueling Capabilities Achieved on Time?

Will Unmanned Refueling Capabilities Achieved on Time?

180830-N-NO101-001 WASHINGTON (Aug. 30, 2018) File photo dated January 29, 2018. Boeing conducts MQ-25 deck handling demonstration at its facility in St. Louis, Mo. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of The Boeing Co./Released)

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The US Navy could face a three-year delay in the testing of the MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based tanking drone if it doesn’t get its designated test ships through the required modernizations on time, a possibility the Navy said was “remote.” The Navy believes it can avoid a schedule delay and is working toward keeping the program on track.

The MQ-25 provides a combination of refueling, autonomy, and seamless carrier deck integration to deliver a solution that meets the U.S. Navy’s goals: a low-cost unmanned aerial refueling aircraft on the flight deck. The MQ-25 is expected to provide robust refueling capability thereby extending the combat range of various fighter aircraft.

Two carriers — Carl Vinson and George H.W. Bush — have limited windows to complete the installation of unmanned aircraft control stations, and if operational commitments intervene it could create significant issues for the program, according to Navy officials and a government watchdog report.

The Government Accountability Office said: “Specifically, the Navy faces limited flexibility to install MQ-25 control centers on aircraft carriers.” 

Navy officials say a three-year delay is “extremely unlikely,” however the Navy has struggled in recent years to balance its modernization schedules with operational commitments, a problem that its “Optimized Fleet Response Plan” deployment rotation scheme was supposed to address. Ultimately, a delay would further push back the Navy’s ability to extend its carrier air wing’s range through unmanned tanking, critical to keeping the service’s powerful strike arm relevant against long-range guided munitions.

The Navy awarded Boeing an $805 million contract to build the first four MQ-25 aircraft, with options for three additional aircraft, according to defensenews.com.