First operational U.S. Navy MQ-25A Stingray flight

Boeing and the U.S. Navy completed the first flight of an operational MQ-25A Stingray, autonomously taxiing, flying, and landing the carrier-based refueling aircraft.

The first operational Navy MQ-25A flew for two hours over southern Illinois from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. Air-vehicle pilots set the mission route while the aircraft's onboard autonomy managed propulsion, guidance, flight controls, and other systems. The flight validated basic controls and operation with the UMCS MD-5 ground-control station ahead of additional testing and carrier qualification work.

Headline metrics

Flight duration	2 hours
Prior T1 testing	~125 hours	prototype flight time
Role	Autonomous tanker

Highlights

Operational aircraft firstThe first U.S. Navy MQ-25A, distinct from Boeing's earlier T1 prototype, completed flight.
Autonomous sequenceThe aircraft taxied, took off, flew, and landed against a predetermined mission plan.
Carrier pathFollow-on testing leads toward carrier qualifications at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Resources

Boeing first-flight reportboeing.com
Boeing Milestone C updateboeing.com