The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Why The US Navy Is Awarding Boeing Up To $80 Million To Improve A Drone That Isn't Even Operational Yet
America's Navy goes all-in on uncrewed aircraft for the future carrier air wing.
The US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command has finalized a contract with Boeing valued at up to $80 million for a drone program. The agreement concerns the MQ-25A Stingray, described as the first carrier-capable unmanned aerial vehicle expected to enter operational service.
The program is positioned as a core element of the Air Wing Of The Future, to operate alongside the planned sixth-generation F/A-XX and the fifth-generation F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. The project aims to expand the Carrier Air Wing’s capabilities through unmanned support.
The MQ-25A is described as a “tailhook” drone, with roles that include aerial refueling and surveillance to bolster carrier operations. The contract funding is dedicated to progressing this unmanned system toward operational utility for the Navy.
Details about deployment timelines, specific missions, or numbers of aircraft were not provided in the source material. The report notes the program’s intent to deliver a carrier-capable unmanned asset that complements manned aircraft in the fleet.