Boeing’s MQ-25A ‘Stingray’ Drone Just Finished Its First Test Flight

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Unlike the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the Stingray is not built to aid manned fighters in air-to-air combat; its role is far more crucial for naval operations.

The United States Navy and aerospace giant Boeing announced that the unmanned MQ-25A Stingray completed its maiden test flight last week from the company’s facility located at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. It highlights the role that drones can play while serving alongside manned aircraft.

The MQ-25A flew for approximately two hours, with US Navy and Boeing Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) controlling the drone from “the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System MD-5 ground control station that includes Lockheed Martin’s MDCX system,” according to a US Navy media statement. During the flight, the AVPs executed a series of maneuvers and tests that validated the drone’s “basic flight controls, engine performance, and handling characteristics.”

Although the flight was under human control, the program’s goal is for the Stingray to taxi, take off, fly, and land autonomously. The drone is designed to operate from the US Navy’s aircraft carriers and integrate with a carrier air wing.

“Achieving this first flight underscores the strong partnership........

© The National Interest