Military
Boeing Lifts Veil on Unmanned Navy Refueling Tanker
Published:
Last Updated:
Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) on Tuesday showed for the first time the aircraft the company plans to enter into a competition to build an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to refuel U.S. Navy jets operating from aircraft carriers. The Navy quietly released a final request for proposals in October and expects to make a decision by September 2018.
Competing against Boeing are Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) and privately held General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) pulled out of the bidding in late October saying it would not be able to meet the Navy’s contract terms.
The refueling drone, dubbed the MQ-25 Stingray, is being designed for in-flight refueling of carrier-based fighter planes and the drone must be capable of operating from a carrier as well. The Stingray program was conceived originally as a stealthy drone capable of multiple missions and has been gradually winnowed to a refueling tanker. An additional contract requirement is that the drone tanker use existing aerial refueling systems to cut down on project development time, cost and risk.
Boeing showed off its version of the drone on Tuesday in St. Louis. This photo accompanied the press release:
Source: The Boeing Co.
Â
The MQ-25 must be capable of refueling the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler (both Boeing aircraft) and the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter from Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed has only revealed a partial illustration, while General Atomics has released an illustration of the Sea Avenger version of the company’s Avenger drone. Here’s the General Atomics concept drawing:
Source: General Atomics
Â
The chief of naval operations wants the first carrier flight of the refueling drone by 2019, and program officers are aiming at having the drones operational in the 2020s. The number of MQ-25As included in the contract has not been specified.
24/7 Wall St.Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
