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.
