Carrier-Based UAV Takes First Flight

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The United States Navy has recently had its inaugural flight of the branch’s first UAV designed to be regularly launched from an aircraft carrier. The MQ-25A Stingray drone will be utilized towards refueling other aircraft, thus increasing the range of jets such as the Super Hornet.

The flight test, which took place in Illinois under the control of Boeing, lasted two hours and proved that the UAV was capable of autonomous taxi and takeoff. The UAV then flew a predetermined flight, validating the Stingray’s basic flight functions with the ground control station.

A concern that rises with aircraft carriers is that their main offensive force, the fighter jets onboard, is limited by fuel. Therefore, in order to stay relevant, an aircraft carrier will have to position itself within the range of enemy anti-ship systems, such as the Chinese DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile.

At first, it was pitched to develop longer-ranged attack UAVs such as the discontinued X-47B program. However, after the X-47B was discontinued, a second proposal towards this problem was pitched; to develop an unmanned flying gas station.

An aerial refueling tanker such as the MQ-25A Stingray will vastly increase the offensive capabilities of the United States’ aircraft carriers. By having just a few UAV tankers, the Navy increases the range of its strike fighter jets.

Popularmechanics.com has reported that the MQ-25A will also be used for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions. The UAV can be fitted with an ISR package, making it possible for the aircraft to spy on nearby ships and coastlines.

If all goes according to plan, the United States Navy will be able to add the MQ-25A to its fleet by 2024.