The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray™ successfully completed its first test flight from Boeing's facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, April 25, achieving a key step for unmanned carrier operations. 

The U.S. Navy tested its Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station’s (UMCS) ability to command an unmanned aircraft in flight for the first time Nov. 5, paving the way for future unmanned aviation operations.

The Navy recently installed the world’s first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), where Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) will control future MQ-25™ Stingray airborne operations.

This major installation was a multi-year effort coordinated across multiple ship availability periods and the ship’s deployment schedule.

The Marine Corps' UH-1Y helicopter completed an initial flight to test the data transmission of the new Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) capability for MQ-25 Stingray April 26 at Pax River.

The Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation office (PMA-268) welcomed a new program manager during a change of command ceremony Feb. 23 at the newly built MQ-25 hangar at Patuxent River.

Capt. Sam Messer, who will retire after 27 years of service, transferred leadership to Capt. Daniel Fucito, who most recently served as the NAVAIR systems engineering military director.

Guest speaker Rear Adm. John Dougherty, who leads the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, spoke highly on the personal and professional relationship he's had with Messer for nearly three decades.

The Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office (PMA-268) conducted its first lab integration event June 28-30 at Pax River to demonstrate how the MQ-25's Ground Control Station (GCS) will command the unmanned aircraft in the carrier environment. 

The Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office (PMA-268) is moving forward with integrating its two key elements—the MQ-25 air vehicle and the MD-5 Ground Control Station (GCS) at the program’s System Test and Integration Lab (STIL) at Patuxent River.

PMA-268 is the lead systems integrator, working closely with its two prime industry partners, Boeing  and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works ®, to ensure the expeditious integration of the MQ-25 Stingray Air Vehicle, the MD-5 GCS, and Aircraft Carrier (CVN) modifications required to support MQ-25 operations.

The Navy completed an Unmanned Carrier Aviation Demonstration (UCAD) of its MQ-25 unmanned air system prototype in December aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), laying the groundwork for future carrier-based UAS operations.

The government team, along with industry partners Boeing and Lockheed Martin, conducted a demonstration aboard the carrier with both ground control system (GCS) and aircraft to evaluate the MQ-25 system’s integration into the carrier environment.

The Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation (PMA-268) program completed its first aerial refueling of an F-35C Lightning II aircraft by the Boeing-owned MQ-25 test asset, known as T1, as part of the Navy’s broader initiative to field unmanned systems that transform and enhance the fleet’s capability, capacity and lethality.

The integrated Navy and Boeing MQ-25 team, in coordination with the F-35 program, conducted the refueling flight Sept. 13 near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.

The Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation program completed its first aerial refueling flight with an E-2D aircraft Aug.18 at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.
 

The Boeing-owned MQ-25 test asset, known as T1, transferred fuel to an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the newest variant of the E-2 platform which was upgraded with an aerial refueling capability in 2019.