![Boeing, U.S. Navy Achieve Successful MQ-25A Test Flight Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Navy have successfully completed the first test flight of an operational MQ-25A Stingray™. The milestone advances the Stingray closer to aircraft carrier operations and marks the beginning of a new era in naval aviation. During the two-hour flight, the unmanned aircraft successfully demonstrated its ability to autonomously taxi, take off, fly, land and respond to commands from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System MD-5 Ground Control Station (GCS). Boeing and U.S. Navy Air Vehicle Pilots facilitated the mission by sending the aircraft commands and then monitored its performance from the GCS at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Ill., where the program is based. Once airborne, the Stingray executed a pre-determined mission plan that validated its flight controls, navigation, and safe integration with the GCS. "Today's successful flight builds on years of learning from our MQ-25A T1 prototype and represents a major maturation of the program," said Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager, Boeing Air Dominance. "The MQ-25A is the most complex autonomous system ever developed for the carrier environment, and this historic achievement advances us closer to safely integrating the Stingray into the carrier air wing." "The first flight of the MQ-25A is a landmark achievement for the Navy-Boeing team and a critical step toward the future of the carrier air wing," said Rear Adm. Tony Rossi, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons. "This flight demonstrates our progress in delivering a carrier-based refueling capability that will significantly extend the reach and lethality of our fleet." The MQ-25A is the Navy's gateway to integrating unmanned aircraft on the carrier deck, enabling manned-unmanned teaming. Its autonomous aerial refueling capability will significantly extend the operational range of the carrier air wing and allow F/A-18 Super Hornets currently performing the aerial refueling role to focus on their primary role as a multi-role strike fighter. The aircraft is the first of four Engineering Development Model aircraft that will be delivered to the Navy under the original $805M Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract. "Watching our first Navy aircraft complete an autonomous flight underscores what disciplined teamwork and rigorous testing deliver," said Troy Rutherford, vice president, Boeing MQ-25 program. "Today would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Boeing, Navy, and industry team. Together, we are redefining the future of naval aviation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible with autonomy." Boeing and the Navy will conduct additional test flights out of MidAmerica St. Louis Airport to further validate the aircraft's flight controls and capabilities before transitioning to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, to prepare for carrier qualifications.](https://defence-industry.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/lockheed-martin-skunk-works-system-supports-first-mq-25a-flight.jpg)
The two-hour flight took place from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, where the MQ-25 programme is based. The aircraft demonstrated its ability to autonomously taxi, take off, fly and land while responding to commands from the Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System MD-5 Ground Control Station.
Lockheed Martin said its MDCX software serves as the backbone of the ground control station and was selected in 2020 as Boeing’s ground-control component for the MQ-25A programme. During the flight, Navy and Boeing air vehicle pilots issued commands and monitored aircraft performance from the control station.
Once airborne, the aircraft carried out a pre-planned mission designed to validate flight controls, navigation systems and safe integration with the ground control architecture. The Navy said the test marked a key step toward future carrier-based unmanned operations.
“Today’s successful first flight relied on the seamless integration between a MQ-25 aircraft and Lockheed Martin’s ground control station,” said Rear Adm. Tony Rossi.
“This milestone proves the strength of our partnership in developing the command-and-control infrastructure necessary to operate unmanned platforms safely and effectively from our carriers,” Rossi added.
Boeing described the flight as a major step toward integrating the aircraft into carrier operations. The company said the MQ-25A is designed to expand manned-unmanned teaming and significantly extend the operational range of carrier air wings.
“Today’s successful flight builds on years of learning from our MQ-25A T1 prototype and represents a major maturation of the program,” said Dan Gillian. “The MQ-25A is the most complex autonomous system ever developed for the carrier environment, and this historic achievement advances us closer to safely integrating the Stingray into the carrier air wing.”
“The first flight of the MQ-25A is a landmark achievement for the Navy-Boeing team and a critical step toward the future of the carrier air wing,” Rossi added. “This flight demonstrates our progress in delivering a carrier-based refueling capability that will significantly extend the reach and lethality of our fleet.”
The MQ-25A is designed primarily as an aerial refuelling platform, allowing F/A-18 Super Hornet jets currently performing tanker missions to return to strike roles. Boeing said the aircraft is the first of four Engineering Development Model aircraft being delivered under the original $805 million Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract.
“Our MDCX open architecture C2 solution integrated seamlessly with a Boeing MQ-25A, delivering secure UAV control for its first flight,” said OJ Sanchez.
“This achievement is a result of our enduring partnership with the U.S. Navy to expand its capabilities and interoperability by enabling a single carrier-based command station to control multiple uncrewed vehicles to advance its Air Wing of the Future vision,” Sanchez added.
“Watching our first Navy aircraft complete an autonomous flight underscores what disciplined teamwork and rigorous testing deliver,” said Troy Rutherford. “Today would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our Boeing, Navy, and industry team. Together, we are redefining the future of naval aviation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with autonomy.”
Boeing and the Navy said additional flight tests will continue in Illinois before the aircraft moves to Naval Air Station Patuxent River for carrier qualification preparations.
