U.S. Navy awards Boeing $562 million contract to mass produce MQ-25A unmanned tanker

The picture shows the MQ-25A unmanned tanker. (DVIDS)

[Reporter Wu Zheyu/Comprehensive Report] The U.S. Navy has taken a critical step in unmanned combat capabilities of aircraft. Recently, it officially awarded Boeing a US$562 million (approximately NT$17.85 billion) contract to launch low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the MQ-25A "Stingray" ship-based unmanned tanker. The first batch of three aircraft will be manufactured, and the long-delivery components required for the next batch of three aircraft will be purchased in advance. The first mass-produced aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2029, symbolizing that the MQ-25A has officially entered the mass production stage from research and development testing.

The military news website "Defence Blog" reported that this fixed-price incentive contract covers the first batch of three MQ-25A aircraft and provides long-term component procurement funds for the second batch of three aircraft. The MQ-25A passed the "Milestone C" decision in May this year and was approved by Acting Secretary of the Navy Cao Hong to enter the full-scale production and deployment stage, allowing the Navy to formally invest in follow-up mass production funds in addition to the existing research and development and testing aircraft.

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The core mission of the MQ-25A is to take off from an aircraft carrier and perform aerial refueling for the aircraft carrier air wing. Currently, part of the US military's aerial refueling tasks are performed by F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" fighters through external refueling pods, which equals to occupying aircraft and flight hours that could otherwise be put into combat.

The report pointed out that as the MQ-25A takes over the refueling mission, the F/A-18E/F can be re-engaged in air control and strike missions. This will not only increase the number of fighter sorties available to the aircraft carrier, but also reduce the wear and tear of the Super Hornet fleet and extend its service life. At the same time, it can further expand the combat radius of the aircraft carrier-based aircraft through aerial refueling.

According to the official plan of the U.S. Navy, 76 MQ-25As are currently scheduled to be acquired, including 4 early engineering development and manufacturing aircraft and 5 system demonstration test aircraft. There are currently another seven test aircraft in production, assembled at Boeing's St. Louis factory in Missouri and the dedicated MQ-25 production line in Mascouta, Illinois.

Compared with simply adding an unmanned tanker, another important significance of the MQ-25A is that it has become the first ship-based unmanned aircraft in the U.S. Navy that fully integrates aircraft flight deck operations and can routinely operate with manned fighters such as the F-35C and F/A-18E/F.

The U.S. Navy also regards the MQ-25A as a "pioneer" for future unmanned aircraft to enter the carrier air wing. In addition to being responsible for the MQ-25A itself, the PMA-268 program office also simultaneously built the ground-based "unmanned carrier aviation mission control system" to establish a complete command and control structure.

Therefore, although the "Stingray" started out as a refueling mission, the more important goal behind it is to verify how unmanned aircraft can be integrated into the aircraft deck, airspace and manned-machine combat system. With the first batch of mass production contracts awarded, the U.S. Navy will allow more reconnaissance, electronic warfare and even combat drones to board aircraft carriers in the future, and it will also gain an important operational foundation.