The U.S. Navy’s first production representative MQ-25 Stingray flew for the first time on April 25, 2026, demonstrating the ability to autonomously taxi, take off, fly and land. Boeing and the U.S.

The MQ-25A is not a “collaborative combat aircraft” drone; instead, its function is to serve as an aerial refueler, lessening the risk of refueling in contested spaces.

The first operational Boeing MQ-25A Stingray has taken to the sky for the first time. On April 25, 2026, the carrier-based autonomous aerial refueling plane took off from MidAmerica Airport in ...

Following the first flight, the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray uncrewed tanker has reached the Milestone C and has been cleared for the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Acting Secretary of the U.S.

The MQ-25A Stingray soars over southern Illinois during a successful two-hour flight test on April 25. (Eric Shindelbower/Boeing) The U.S. Navy’s premier operational unmanned carrier-based aircraft ...

Credit: U.S. Navy SIMI VALLEY, California—The much-anticipated first flight of the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray for the U.S. Navy has been pushed to early 2026, a delay after both service and company leaders ...

The first unmanned tankers for the U.S. Navy won’t be ready to deploy on aircraft carriers until 2029, according to Navy budget documents. The Boeing MQ-25A Stingray, the unmanned carrier tanker ...