US Navy awards first MQ-25A Stingray production contract

The first production contract was awarded for the MQ-25A, shown here on the deck of aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. (Michael Fabey)

The US Navy (USN) awarded the Boeing Company a USD562 million fixed price incentive contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the USN Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Aviation confirmed on 14 September.

The programme's first production contract provides the funds for three LRIP Lot 1 MQ-25As and additional funding for the advanced acquisition of long-lead components to support three LRIP Lot 2 MQ-25As, the PAE Aviation said in a statement, adding that initial deliveries from Lot 1 are expected to begin in 2029.

Awarding the first LRIP contract marks a transition from development to operational “reality”, Captain Daniel Fucito, Unmanned Carrier Aviation program manager, noted in a statement.

The Stingray programme received Milestone C approval in May to move into the Production and Deployment phase.

The MQ-25A programme of record calls for 76 air vehicles to include four engineering development and manufacturing (EDM) models and five system demonstration test articles, the USN said in a statement.

Currently, seven test aircraft are in production at Boeing in St. Louis, and the dedicated MQ-25 production facility in Mascoutah, Illinois, the USN said.

“As the world's first fully integrated, carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle, the MQ-25A serves as the pathfinder for the future of unmanned carrier aviation,” PAE Aviation said.

The Stingray will provide the carrier air wing (CVW) with essential organic refuelling, allowing more F/A-18E/F aircraft to focus on strike missions,” PAE Aviation noted.

The Stingrays will expand the operational reach of the air wing and preserve the service life of F/A-18E/Fs, improving Super Hornet readiness, PAE Aviation said.