The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract on Monday to begin Lot 1 Low Rate Initial Production of the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker, the service announced. The contract covers three Lot 1 MQ-25A aircraft and includes additional funding for components to support three Lot 2 MQ-25As. Initial Lot 1 deliveries are slated for 2029.
The MQ-25A will become the Defense Department’s first unmanned tanker and the Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft, according to the Navy. The aircraft is designed to extend the life of the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornets and relieve the fighter jets of their aerial refueling role so they can focus on strike missions.
The Stingray is expected to deliver at least 14,000 pounds of fuel over 500 nautical miles, roughly the same capacity as the Super Hornets, according to an August report from the Government Accountability Office. The MQ-25 program of record includes 67 operational aircraft and nine test aircraft.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao previewed the low-rate production and deployment announcement in May during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.
The Navy completed its first successful Stingray test flight on April 25, though that demonstration lagged a year behind the service’s initial plans. The Navy estimates it will continue flight tests through the end of this year.
Boeing is moving forward with production after several setbacks in the MQ-25 program, according to the Navy’s announcement.
Sources: DVIDS News · DVIDS News · Defense News · Navy Times