US Navy MQ-25 Stingray Unmanned Aerial Tanker

Brumby

Brumby

Major
MQ-25 First Flight Slated This Summer
PARIS—
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has revealed that the U.S. Navy MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned refueling tanker company-funded prototype will achieve first flight later this summer.

The announcement was made at the Paris Air Show, being held here June 17-23.

The prototype is dubbed “T1” and will complete a 200-hr. flight hour test program to reduce risk and assess the possibility of program acceleration, Leanne Caret, Boeing Defense, Space & Security president and chief executive, said here June 17.

The Navy has requested the company accelerate initial operational capability ahead of 2024 as much as possible. The MQ-25 engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) phase aircraft is slated for first flight in roughly 18 months.

The T1 first flight will inform design decisions before the company releases the MQ-25 EMD configuration to the supply chain in early 2020. T1 will be capable of making dry and wet refueling contacts with receiver aircraft.

MQ-25 will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability as a secondary mission. The aircraft extends carrier airwing mission effectiveness, range and mitigates strike fighter shortfall. The Pentagon is requesting $671 million in fiscal 2020 research and development funding.
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Source : Aerospace Daily & Defense Report June 17, 2019

The first time I have seen reported that the MQ-25 will have secondary ISR capability.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Brumby said:
MQ-25 First Flight Slated This Summer

Source : Aerospace Daily & Defense Report June 17, 2019

The first time I have seen reported that the MQ-25 will have secondary ISR capability.
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Which still makes me wonder why the X-47B is still on the shelf. The X-47B was the aircraft we needed for both ISR and strike...send them in ahead of the F-35s of F-18s, let them find and accomplish the SEAD mission.

Oh well...she is still out there, and already carrier qualified in so many ways.

As t is, the keep expanding the MQ-25s role.
 
Jura The idiot

Jura The idiot

General
Jeff Head said:
Which still makes me wonder why the X-47B is still on the shelf. ...
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because, as I've repeatedly posted,

October 25, 2017
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:
“When we’re looking at one of these opportunities, let me be clear: Our objective is not just to win. Winning is great, it feels good on the day of an announcement, but if you can’t really execute on it and deliver on it to your customer and your shareholders, then you’ve done the wrong thing,” Northrop head Wes Bush said during an Oct. 25 earnings call.
 
Air Force Brat

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Jeff Head said:
Which still makes me wonder why the X-47B is still on the shelf. The X-47B was the aircraft we needed for both ISR and strike...send them in ahead of the F-35s of F-18s, let them find and accomplish the SEAD mission.

Oh well...she is still out there, and already carrier qualified in so many ways.

As t is, the keep expanding the MQ-25s role.
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True Jeff, probably just the money?? Good to see you on deck Sir!
 
Air Force Brat

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
anzha said:
There is significant resistance from the airdales for putting UAVs of any sort on the flight deck.

That's why UCLASS was neutered and made into a tanker.
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NAH!, having a tanker that you can fly without risking an aircrew is a smart use of UAV's, the X-47B will continue to lack defensive capabilities that come with a manned fighter bomber, it may get there, but you've got to admit the Navy is spending a "krap-load" of cash right now, they've even rolled back the F-35C schedule very significantly!

So Nav-Air is spending a bunch of cashola trying to get all their birds up the 80% mark, just the way it is..
 
Jura The idiot

Jura The idiot

General
incredibly (
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),

"The estimated price tag for the MQ-25 Stingray refueling drone dropped from $15.2 billion to $13.1 billion “due primarily to a revised estimate to align to the fixed price contract awarded [to Boeing] on August 30, 2018” and revised cost estimates."

Anything’s Possible
 
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