'Not just an aircraft': US Navy MQ-25 Stingray drone hit a major milestone with maiden flight — largest US UAV ever built set to become world's first autonomous tanker to take flight from an aircraft carrier and maybe feature in a Top Gun movie one day
Autonomous carrier refueling could free F/A-18 fighters for frontline duties
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/wayne-williams · TechRadarNews By Wayne Williams published 6 May 2026
Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter
- Autonomous tanker drone completed two-hour maiden flight validating core flight systems
- MQ-25A will replace fighter jets in aerial refueling role aboard carriers
- Further testing planned before transition to carrier qualification operations in Maryland
The US Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray autonomous tanker drone, the service’s first operational unmanned aerial refueler, has completed its maiden flight.
The two-hour test took place over southern Illinois, where the aircraft carried out a series of maneuvers to validate its basic flight controls and onboard operations.
During the mission, the drone followed a predetermined plan which saw it taxi, take off, fly, and land autonomously, all triggered through commands issued from the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System MD-5 Ground Control Station.
Article continues below
Navy plans autonomous operations
Air Vehicle Pilots set the route and defined waypoints before launch, then monitored performance throughout the flight and retained the ability to abort or adjust the mission if required.
The aircraft handled propulsion, guidance, subsystems, and flight controls on its own once the mission began, showing how the U.S. Navy plans to run autonomous operations while keeping human oversight in the loop.
“Today’s successful flight builds on years of learning from our MQ-25A T1 prototype and represents a major maturation of the program,” said Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager, Boeing Air Dominance.
“The MQ-25A is the most complex autonomous system ever developed for the carrier environment, and this historic achievement advances us closer to safely integrating the Stingray into the carrier air wing.”
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors