American aviation giant Boeing reported first flight of operational, meaning real serial MQ-25A Stingray UAV for U.S. Navy.
It lasted two hours, during which main flight control functions and ground control station interaction were tested, as well as autonomous programmed mission execution with independent runway taxiing, takeoff, flying predetermined route and landing.
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As stated, this stage brings MQ-25A Stingray closer to full carrier operations and air wing integration. After their completion, UAV will be transferred to Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, where it should undergo carrier qualification flight preparation.
U.S. Navy and Boeing make very big bet on this drone, expecting significant carrier strike group combat capability increase, although MQ-25A Stingray itself is not strike drone. Its main purpose is being aerial tanker, but despite absolutely non-combat mission character, this specifically will enable engaging more aircraft in strike missions.
Thus, F/A-18 portion is allocated only for this task, reducing overall aircraft quantity that can participate in strike missions. This is 20-30% of all F/A-18 sorties. By the way, fuel transfer capability for F/A-18E/F and MQ-25A Stingray is identical — 6.8 tons at 930 km distance from carrier.
Moreover, engaging MQ-25A Stingray in this task enables conducting F-35C refueling without significantly reducing mission observability. This drone is manufactured using stealth technology, so will become smaller unmasking factor than F/A-18 or full tanker like KC-135.
At the same time, impossible not to note that MQ-25A Stingray advancement pace is quite moderate. Specifically, prototype made first flight back on September 19, 2019, and over six years entire range of tests was conducted, including 2021 carrier systems integration, but without its launch.
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