The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million contract for the first low-rate initial production lot of the MQ-25A Stingray on Sept. 14. The Stingray is the service’s first carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle.
The fixed-price incentive contract covers Lot 1 production of the Stingray, which is designed to conduct aerial refueling of carrier strike aircraft, extending their combat range, according to the Navy.
The MQ-25A represents the Navy’s most significant unmanned aviation milestone in a generation. The aircraft is designed to operate from existing carrier flight decks without requiring modifications to the ships, the Navy said.
The production contract marks a critical acquisition milestone, moving the program from development and testing into manufacturing. Low-rate initial production is the stage at which the Pentagon commits to building operational systems while continuing to refine the design based on testing results.
The Stingray’s primary mission is to serve as an autonomous aerial refueling tanker, freeing manned fighter aircraft from tanking duties and allowing carrier air wings to project power at greater distances. The capability addresses a longstanding gap in carrier strike group operations, where limited tanking capacity constrains the range of strike missions.
Boeing has been developing the MQ-25A at its St. Louis facilities. The program completed initial flight testing and carrier deck handling demonstrations in prior years.
The contract sets the stage for fleet-wide integration of unmanned systems into carrier air wings, a transformation the Navy has pursued for more than a decade. The Naval Air Systems Command is the program’s acquisition authority.
The production award will be closely watched by congressional defense appropriators, who have pressed the Navy on unmanned aviation timelines and cost controls.