Stingray refuels Advanced Hawkeye in latest aerial trials

The Boeing MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial vehicle has passed fuel to a Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye receiver aircraft for the first time, it was announced on 19 August.

A company-owned Boeing MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker passes fuel to a US Navy-operated E-2D Advanced Hawkeye receiver aircraft during trials. (Boeing)

The Boeing-owned test Stingray, MQ-25 T1, passed fuel to an E-2D airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) receiver aircraft flown by the US Navy's (USN's) Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-20 during the event the day prior to the announcement.

“During a test flight from MidAmerica St Louis Airport on 18 August, pilots from VX-20 conducted a successful wake survey behind MQ-25 T1 to ensure performance and stability before making contact with T1's aerial refuelling drogue. The E-2D received fuel from T1's aerial refuelling store during the flight,” Boeing said.

This first contact for the Stingray unmanned tanker with an Advanced Hawkeye receiver aircraft came nearly three months after the first aerial refuelling test was performed on 4 June with a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet receiver. Both the Advanced Hawkeye and Super Hornet flights were conducted at operationally relevant speeds and altitudes, with both receiver aircraft performing manoeuvres in close proximity to the Stingray.

Boeing is manufacturing the first two of seven Stingray test aircraft, and two ground test vehicles that are currently under contract. The Boeing-owned T1 test asset is a predecessor to these aircraft, and is due to be shipped to Norfolk, Virginia, for deck handling trials aboard a USN aircraft carrier later this year.