Ronald Reagan received its MD-5C Ground Control Station in August 2026, following USS Theodore Roosevelt in March. Both stations are installed in dedicated onboard Unmanned Air Warfare Centers and use Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ MDCX autonomy platform.
The installations provide the command infrastructure needed to integrate the Stingray into carrier aviation. Lockheed Martin said the capability supports longer carrier air wing reach and allows manned aircraft to focus on higher-priority missions.
“These two operational unmanned air warfare centers aboard CVN 71 and CVN 76 bring us closer to integrating unmanned carrier aviation into the fleet,” said Capt. Daniel Fucito, PMA-268 program manager. “Thanks to the incredible work from our joint Navy and Lockheed Martin team, these carriers are ready to fly the MQ-25A.”
The MD-5C combines the government’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence network with Lockheed Martin software and hardware and additional government-produced equipment. MDCX supplies the mission planning and execution software that enables Navy operators to command and control the unmanned aircraft.
Fucito said the integration of manned and unmanned platforms would strengthen the fleet’s ability to adapt to operational demands. “By pairing our unmanned systems with our manned aircraft, we are building a more resilient, adaptable force that is better prepared to win the fight.”
“MDCX is delivering on the promise of a ready-now, open-architecture command and control platform for the fleet,” said Ben Tongue, MDCX program manager. “In five months, we’ve doubled the number of U.S. Navy carriers ready to fly the MQ-25A Stingray.”
Lockheed Martin said the installation follows MDCX milestones across shipboard, shore-based and flight testing. Those activities cover platform autonomy, control of multiple platforms and the ability to scale operations.
