This article is based on an official press release from the U.S. Navy.

Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray Secures Milestone C Approval, Entering Initial Production

The U.S. Navy has officially granted Milestone C approval to the MQ-25A Stingray program, marking a critical transition from the engineering phase into manufacturing and deployment. Announced on May 19, 2026, by Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, this decision authorizes Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the world’s first fully integrated, carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Developed by Boeing, the MQ-25A is designed primarily to provide organic aerial refueling to the Carrier Air Wing (CVW). By taking over routine tanking duties, the Stingray will relieve manned F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, significantly extending the operational reach and lethality of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups. According to the official Navy press release, this milestone follows a highly successful test flight of a production-representative aircraft in late April 2026, which cleared the path for fleet introduction.

The transition to production represents a major technological leap for naval aviation, introducing a hybrid manned-unmanned model to the flight deck and setting the doctrinal foundation for future collaborative combat aircraft.

Overcoming Delays and Proving Capabilities

The Crucial April Test Flight

The Milestone C decision was heavily dependent on the successful first test flight of a production-representative MQ-25A Stingray, which took place on April 25, 2026. As detailed in the Navy’s release, the aircraft launched from Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and completed a comprehensive two-hour flight.

During this flight, the UAV autonomously executed a digitally programmed mission plan. The demonstration included taxiing, takeoff, complex flight maneuvers, and landing. Furthermore, the aircraft successfully responded to commands from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS) MD-5 Ground Control Station, proving its readiness for carrier integration.

This successful demonstration was vital for the program’s advancement. The MQ-25A had previously missed its originally scheduled Milestone C target in fiscal year 2023 due to technical and production delays. The Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) had previously cited concerns over the program’s reliance on data from an early prototype rather than production-representative hardware. The April 2026 flight of the operational model effectively resolved these hurdles.

“Boeing is honored to work alongside our U.S. Navy partner in achieving this historic milestone in the MQ-25A Stingray’s development life cycle. We remain focused on getting this game-changing unmanned aircraft into the hands of the fleet and integrated into the carrier air wing.”

, Troy Rutherford, Vice President of Boeing’s MQ-25 Program, via Navy press release

Production Contracts and Program Scale

Transitioning to Low-Rate Initial Production

With Milestone C secured, the Navy is moving rapidly to initiate manufacturing. According to program data, the Navy is expected to award an LRIP Lot 1 contract for three aircraft this summer. This upcoming contract will also include priced options for Lot 2, which covers three additional aircraft, and Lot 3, which covers five aircraft.

The financial scope of the MQ-25A program is substantial. The original Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract, signed in 2018, was valued at $805 million for the design, development, and delivery of the first four Stingray aircraft. Moving forward, the Navy expects the total program to cost approximately $13 billion to procure a complete fleet of 72 aircraft.

“Unmanned refueling extends our reach against any adversary. Moving the MQ-25A Stingray to Milestone C and into production is arming our warfighters with a capability that increases the lethality of our Carrier Strike Groups. This is a decisive advantage that delivers our warfighters what they need to fight and win.”

, Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy, via Navy press release

Technical Specifications and Strategic Impact

Engineering for Endurance

To meet the demanding requirements of carrier-based aerial refueling, the MQ-25A is powered by a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007N engine. This engine features a high-bypass-ratio (5:1) architecture specifically designed for low specific fuel consumption, which is critical for enabling the long-endurance missions required of a fleet tanker. While its primary mission is refueling, the Navy notes that the MQ-25A is also equipped to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, adding a secondary layer of utility to the Carrier Air Wing.

“The Rolls-Royce AE 3007N engine was integral to the successful first flight of the MQ-25A Stingray, which will greatly enhance the range and capability of the U.S. Carrier Air Wing. We are honored the U.S. Navy has, once again, put its trust in our proven, reliable family of high-performance AE engines for this critical new unmanned platform.”

, Meagan Rater, Director of U.S. Mature Programs for Defense, Rolls-Royce, via Navy press release

Redefining Carrier Strike Range

The introduction of the Stingray addresses a critical operational bottleneck for the Navy. Currently, up to 20 to 30 percent of F/A-18 Super Hornet flight hours are consumed by “buddy tanking”, the practice of using manned fighters to refuel other fighters. By assuming this organic tanking mission, the MQ-25A will preserve the service life of the Super Hornet fleet and allow manned fighters to focus strictly on combat and strike missions.

Furthermore, the Stingray is designed to offload up to 15,000 pounds of fuel at a distance of 500 nautical miles from the aircraft carrier. This capability effectively doubles the strike range of manned aircraft, a crucial metric for modern naval operations.

AirPro News analysis

The Milestone C approval for the MQ-25A Stingray is more than just an acquisition checkpoint; it represents a fundamental shift in the geometry of naval warfare. By allowing aircraft carriers to project power from significantly further away, the Navy is directly addressing the growing threat of adversarial anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems, particularly in contested environments like the Indo-Pacific. Furthermore, the Stingray serves as the vital pathfinder for integrating autonomous drones into the high-pressure, complex environment of carrier flight decks. The lessons learned from the MQ-25A’s deployment will inevitably shape the future of collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) and the broader integration of unmanned systems across the U.S. military.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Milestone C?
  Milestone C is a critical defense acquisition checkpoint that authorizes a program to transition from the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase into Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and eventual deployment.
• What engine powers the MQ-25A Stingray?
  The aircraft is powered by a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007N engine, which utilizes a high-bypass-ratio design for fuel efficiency and long endurance.
• How much fuel can the MQ-25A offload?
  The Stingray is designed to offload up to 15,000 pounds of fuel at a distance of 500 nautical miles from the carrier.
• How many MQ-25A aircraft does the Navy plan to buy?
  The Navy expects to procure a total fleet of 72 aircraft, with the total program cost estimated at approximately $13 billion.

Sources

• U.S. Navy Press Release