Boeing’s MQ-25A ‘Stingray’ Drone Just Finished Its First Test Flight

MQ-25A Stingray Completes First Flight, Heads to Pax River

PATUXENT RIVER — The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refueling aircraft completed its first test flight April 25 from Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, marking a significant milestone for future carrier-based unmanned operations that will be further developed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The aircraft lifted off at 10:49 a.m. CDT and remained airborne for approximately two hours. Navy and Boeing A…

Boeing’s MQ-25A ‘Stingray’ Drone Just Finished Its First Test Flight

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US Navy’s First Production-ready Variant of MQ-25 Stingray Takes First Flight

The first production MQ-25 (Stingray), a mid-air refuelling drone developed by Boeing, completed its maiden test flight on 25 April, 2026. Initially, a first attempt on 22 April was aborted for undisclosed reasons. The aircraft took off from St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. This marks a significant feat towards carrier-based unmanned aircraft. A total of nine MQ-25s will be delivered for the test campaign, which is a part of four Engine…

U.S. Navy MQ-25A drone completes first flight with Rolls-Royce engine

The MQ-25A is designed primarily for aerial refueling and is expected to extend the strike range of the U.S. Carrier Air Wing while allowing Carrier Strike Groups to operate farther from potential threats. Rolls-Royce said the platform will also help improve service member safety and support maritime security and awareness objectives outlined in the National Defense Strategy. In addition to aerial refueling, the unmanned aircraft is equipped to …

New Navy drone has local ties - The True Citizen

New Navy drone has local ties A man with ties to Waynesboro and Burke County was instrumental in the design and production of the United States Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray that took its first flight on Saturday, April 25th. Zachary (Zach) Lively, the son of Burke County resident and True Citizen writer Don Lively, is a mechanical engineer employed by Boeing at its St. Louis facility. Lively has been involved in the Stingray program for several years …

Boeing MQ-25 Stingray completes first flight, advancing carrier-based autonomous refueling

The MQ-25 is designed to transfer roughly 15,000 pounds of fuel using a hose-and-drogue system, extending the operational range of carrier-based aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and enabling crewed-uncrewed teaming.