The Boeing Company and the U.S. Navy have successfully demonstrated Manned Unmanned Teaming software that allows crewed fighter aircraft to directly command the autonomous MQ-25A Stingray aerial refueler. Announced on October 5, 2026, the test validates the use of the military standard Link 16 communications network to control the drone, a capability designed to streamline carrier strike group operations and extend mission reach.

The flight tests took place during the Emerald Flag military exercise at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and utilized open-architecture command-and-control messaging. According to a press release from Boeing, the software is platform-agnostic and aims to turn the unmanned tanker into a force-multiplier by reducing logistical friction during aerial refueling operations.

Validating autonomous coordination over Link 16

The recent tests at Eglin Air Force Base involved collaboration across several Boeing divisions, including the Phantom Works, MQ-25, F/A-18, and F-22 teams. To demonstrate the software in flight, the company utilized a Beechcraft 1900D and a Beechcraft King Air E90 as surrogate test aircraft.

By routing command-and-control messaging through Link 16, the primary tactical data network used by the U.S. military and allied forces, the Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) software allows pilots in crewed fighters to directly task the MQ-25A. This eliminates the need to relay refueling requests through a carrier-based control station or a third-party airborne controller.

Boeing MQ-25 Avionics Integrated Product Team Lead Mark Dunn highlighted the operational benefits of the system.

“Having this software embedded into the MQ-25A, we enable autonomous coordination with manned platforms, improving tanker responsiveness, reducing logistical friction, and multiplying the carrier strike group’s operational tempo.”

The platform-agnostic design of the software means it could potentially serve numerous platforms across both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force.

“Integrating this software into the MQ‑25A will give manned platforms control of aircraft, turning the tanker into a force-multiplier that streamlines refueling operations and expands mission reach,” said Kayla Stice, MQ-25 Advanced Design Program Manager at Boeing.

The MQ-25A Stingray development pathway

Developed by the Boeing Defense, Space & Security division, the MQ-25A Stingray is the first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Navy. Its primary mission is unmanned aerial refueling. By taking over tanking duties, the MQ-25A frees up crewed fighters like the F/A-18 Super Hornet to focus exclusively on strike missions, thereby extending the overall range and endurance of the carrier air wing.

The program has achieved several critical milestones leading up to the recent MUM-T software tests. On June 4, 2021, the Boeing MQ-25 T1 test asset successfully refueled a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet for the first time. The T1 asset subsequently demonstrated its capabilities by refueling an E-2D Hawkeye and an F-35C Lightning II.

On April 25, 2026, the first operational U.S. Navy MQ-25A Stingray completed its inaugural two-hour test flight over southern Illinois. That flight validated basic flight controls and operations with the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System (UMCS). Shortly after, on May 19, 2026, the U.S. Navy announced the MQ-25A Stingray had reached Milestone C, officially clearing the program for low-rate initial production (LRIP).

Production contracts and future integration

Following the Milestone C decision, the U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a contract on September 14, 2026, for the low-rate initial production of three additional MQ-25A Stingray aircraft. Designated as Lot 1, this award brought the total number of MQ-25A aircraft currently under U.S. Navy contract to 14.

Boeing and the U.S. Navy plan to conduct additional test flights to validate the MUM-T capability before integrating it into the operational software of the MQ-25A. The initial deployment goal is to field the capability on the MQ-25A Stingray and the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Procurement is expected to continue expanding, with Lot 2 of the low-rate initial production planned to be awarded in 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The successful demonstration of MUM-T over Link 16 represents a critical de-risking step for the broader autonomous aviation strategy of the U.S. military. By utilizing an existing and widely deployed tactical data link rather than requiring a bespoke communications architecture, Boeing and the U.S. Navy are lowering the barrier to entry for integrating unmanned assets into established carrier air wings. If the platform-agnostic nature of the software functions as intended in operational environments, this architecture could eventually allow a wide variety of U.S. and allied combat aircraft to dynamically task refueling assets in contested airspace. We view this as a fundamental shift in how strike packages will be managed, moving control of logistical assets directly into the cockpit of the fighters that depend on them.

Lockheed Martin is seeking to integrate additional Moroccan manufacturers into its global aerospace and defense supply chain, following an executive delegation tour of industrial facilities in Tangiers.

In a press release issued on December 12, 2024, the manufacturer detailed the visit, which was conducted in collaboration with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). The initiative aligns with Morocco’s broader ambitions to establish itself as a major regional aerospace hub supporting advanced platforms, including the F-35 Lightning II.

Expanding the Moroccan supply chain

The delegation was led by Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control division, and Joseph Rank, chief executive for Lockheed Martin in Africa and Saudi Arabia. The facility tour followed the company’s participation in the Marrakesh International Airshow, which took place from October 30 to November 2, 2024.

During the tour, executives visited Eaton-Souriau Tangiers, a facility that produces essential aerospace components and has been part of Lockheed Martin’s supply chain for almost two decades. The manufacturer stated that this existing collaboration supports its defense systems across multiple platforms while building the local industrial workforce. The group also evaluated Ausare, a Mecachrome Group company, for potential future collaboration.

Lockheed Martin’s long history of collaboration with Morocco reflects our shared commitment to advancing defense capabilities, fostering local industrial growth and creating new economic opportunities.

Cahill stated that the company intends to expand its presence to support the country’s defense priorities while generating employment and attracting regional investment.

A half-century of defense partnership

Lockheed Martin’s engagement with Morocco began in 1974 with the delivery of the first C-130H aircraft to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The country has since become a primary regional partner, operating platforms that include the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Sikorsky Helicopters, and various radar systems.

In 2022, Lockheed Martin supported the establishment of Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM), a joint venture designed to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. The MAM facility supports both Moroccan and regional operators of F-16 and C-130H fleets, anchoring the manufacturer’s long-term sustainment footprint in the region.

The manufacturer stated that expanding its relationship with Moroccan suppliers is part of a broader effort to leverage the country’s advanced manufacturing capabilities for its global operations, marking a continuation of a 50-year industrial partnership.

Northrop Grumman’s internally funded YFQ-48A Talon Blue uncrewed combat aircraft completed its first fully autonomous flight on October 3, 2026, at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The milestone flight included autonomous taxi, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers, and landing, validating the manufacturer’s pivot toward a rapidly producible, lower-cost platform for the U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.

In a press release issued today, Northrop Grumman confirmed the successful test, which positions the aircraft as a primary contender for future increments of the military’s uncrewed wingman initiatives. The flight demonstrates the viability of the company’s Prism autonomy software and the modular manufacturing techniques developed by its Scaled Composites subsidiary.

Rapid prototyping and autonomous capabilities

The Talon Blue flight test program is designed to validate both the aerodynamic performance of the airframe and the reliability of its underlying software architecture. The aircraft operates using Northrop Grumman’s Prism Mission Autonomy software. The system was developed using data from more than 500,000 autonomous flight hours across the company’s broader uncrewed portfolio.

Craig Woolston, Vice President and General Manager for Research and Advanced Design at Northrop Grumman, stated that customers require autonomous systems that can be fielded faster and more affordably without sacrificing mission effectiveness. Woolston described the first flight as one step toward a new generation of autonomous capabilities, noting that every flight strengthens the company’s broader autonomy work.

To keep development and production costs low, the YFQ-48A is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW500 commercial turbofan engine variant. Pratt & Whitney announced the successful integration and initial engine start of the adapted powerplant in April 2026. The use of a commercial off-the-shelf engine aligns with the Pentagon’s push for affordable mass in its future uncrewed fleets.

From Project Talon to the YFQ-48A

The YFQ-48A Talon Blue originated from Northrop Grumman’s unsuccessful bid for Increment 1 of the U.S. Air Force CCA program, which was awarded to General Atomics for the YFQ-42A Dark Merlin and Anduril for the YFQ-44A Fury. Following that decision, Northrop Grumman internally funded a rapid development program initially known as Project Lotus, and later Project Talon, to design a smaller, simpler, and cheaper uncrewed fighter.

The resulting aircraft achieved a 1,000-pound weight reduction compared to the company’s original CCA Increment 1 proposal. Engineers at Scaled Composites also reduced the total part count by 50 percent and cut construction time by 30 percent. The rapid prototyping effort allowed the aircraft to stand on its own landing gear just 15 months after program authorization.

Northrop Grumman publicly unveiled the aircraft at the Mojave Air and Space Port on December 3, 2025. Later that month, the U.S. Air Force officially assigned the Mission Design Series designation YFQ-48A to the platform, signaling continued government interest despite the Increment 1 loss. The company officially named the aircraft Talon Blue in February 2026. Prior to the October 3 first flight, the aircraft completed autonomous taxi tests at Mojave in May 2026.

Market context and future testing

The YFQ-48A competes in a rapidly expanding market for loyal wingman drones. Beyond the Increment 1 winners from General Atomics and Anduril, the Talon Blue faces competition from the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat and the Lockheed Martin Vectis. The U.S. Air Force awarded concept refinement contracts for CCA Increment 2 in late 2025 and early 2026, keeping the door open for manufacturers that did not secure initial production contracts.

The Pentagon’s acquisition strategy for these systems heavily emphasizes open architecture, specifically the Autonomy Government Reference Architecture. This framework is designed to prevent vendor lock-in by ensuring that flight control and mission software can be swapped between different airframes. In March 2026, Northrop Grumman and Shield AI demonstrated this capability by conducting successful test flights of the Talon IQ testbed using both Northrop’s Prism and Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software.

Broader military interest in uncrewed systems is also growing. The U.S. Army recently directed the creation of a Futures and Autonomous Systems Command, setting a fiscal 2028 deadline for fielding priority autonomous systems. Northrop Grumman plans to continue flight testing the Talon Blue through late 2026 and 2027 to expand the flight envelope and validate mission systems, positioning the aircraft for potential U.S. Air Force contracts or international sales.

AirPro News analysis

The successful first flight of the Talon Blue represents a significant strategic recovery for Northrop Grumman following its exclusion from the initial Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract awards. By self-funding the YFQ-48A and leveraging commercial components like the Pratt & Whitney PW500 engine, the manufacturer is directly addressing the U.S. Air Force’s demand for affordable mass. The rapid 15-month development cycle executed by Scaled Composites proves that traditional prime contractors can adapt to match the agile development pace of newer defense technology entrants like Anduril.

We expect the open-architecture approach demonstrated by the Talon IQ testbed to be a decisive factor as the military evaluates contenders for Increment 2. The ability to seamlessly integrate third-party software like Shield AI’s Hivemind onto the Talon Blue airframe aligns perfectly with the Pentagon’s strategy to decouple hardware procurement from software development. If Northrop Grumman can prove the 30 percent reduction in construction time translates to scalable, low-cost manufacturing, the YFQ-48A will be a formidable competitor in the next phase of the CCA program.