Navy Drone Aircraft: MQ-25 and Beyond

The Navy's drone aircraft program is taking off in a big way, with the MQ-25 Stingray being the latest addition to their fleet. The MQ-25 is a carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling aircraft that can carry up to 14,000 pounds of fuel.

It's designed to extend the range of fighter jets, allowing them to stay in the air longer and complete their missions more effectively. The MQ-25 is also capable of carrying other payloads, such as sensors and communications equipment.

The Navy plans to integrate the MQ-25 into their fleet by 2025, with the first operational aircraft expected to be deployed on the USS George H.W. Bush. This will mark a significant milestone in the development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the Navy.

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The MQ-25 is a significant advancement in unmanned aerial refueling capabilities. It's a joint project between the U.S. Navy and Boeing, with the first test flight taking place in 2019.

The MQ-25 has made history by becoming the first unmanned aircraft to refuel another aircraft, a feat it achieved in 2021. This capability is crucial for extending the range of carrier-based aircraft.

In related developments, the U.S. Navy has been exploring the concept of drone carrier ships, with DARPA initiating a program in 2013 to develop small naval vessels capable of launching and retrieving combat drones.

Here's a brief comparison of the MQ-25 with other notable drones:

The BAE Taranis, a British demonstrator program, is a notable example of a large unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) with stealth capabilities. Its first flight took place in 2013, and it's designed to be autonomous and capable of deploying munitions over multiple targets.

The MQ-25 T1 test asset, a predecessor to the engineering development model aircraft, has been used for early learning and discovery, laying the foundation for moving rapidly into development and test of the MQ-25.

By accumulating approximately 125 hours in the air, the MQ-25 T1 has helped accelerate the team's understanding of the aircraft's aerodynamic performance and informed design decisions for both the air vehicle and its software.

The MQ-25 T1 has successfully refueled three carrier-based aircraft: an F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2D Hawkeye, and F-35C Lightning II, becoming the first unmanned aircraft in history to refuel another aircraft.

Here are some key milestones in the development of the MQ-25's aerial refueling capabilities:

The MQ-25's aerial refueling capabilities have the potential to significantly extend the range and endurance of carrier-based aircraft, making them more effective in a variety of missions.

The BAE Taranis is a British demonstrator programme for unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology. It's part of the UK's Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicle (Experimental) programme, with a budget of £124m over four years.

The Taranis demonstrator will have a Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of about 8000 kilograms. This makes it one of the world's largest UAVs, comparable in size to the BAE Hawk.

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It's designed to be stealthy, fast, and capable of deploying a range of munitions over multiple targets. The Taranis will also be able to defend itself against manned and unmanned enemy aircraft.

Ground testing for the Taranis started in early 2009. The first flight took place in August 2013 in Woomera, Australia.

The demonstrator will have two internal weapons bays. With full autonomy, the intention is for the platform to be able to "think for itself" for a large part of the mission.

The Sagem Sperwer B is a long endurance tactical UAV capable of surveillance and armed combat missions.

It improves on its predecessor, the Sperwer A, with twice the payload capacity and twice the endurance, offering a 100 kg payload and 12 hours of sustained flight.

The Sperwer B can be outfitted with various sensors and payloads, including electro-optic/infrared sensors, electronic and communications intelligence (ELINT/COMINT), synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and weapons payloads.

All ground facilities of the Sperwer A are compatible with the Sperwer B, making it a versatile and upgradeable system.

The Sperwer B can be equipped with the Rafael Spike-LR anti-tank missile and the Bonus munition from Nexter/BAE Systems Bofors.

For more insights, see: High Altitude Long Endurance Uav

The MQ-25 aircraft has a robust refueling capability, which extends the combat range of deployed Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler, and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters. This is a game-changer for the U.S. Navy, allowing them to stay in the air longer and be more effective in combat.

Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the U.S. Navy for more than 90 years, giving them a wealth of experience in carrier operations. They know the flight deck like the back of their hand, which is essential for seamless integration with existing systems.

The MQ-25 brings the right combination of refueling, autonomy, and carrier deck integration to meet the U.S. Navy's goals. This is a result of Boeing's long history of working with the Navy and their commitment to delivering the best aircraft possible.

Here are some key drone carrier capabilities:

Boeing's carrier heritage stretches back to the 1930s, with aircraft like the Douglas TBD Devastator. They've applied all of that experience to the MQ-25, bringing the best of Boeing to the U.S. Navy once again.

On a similar theme: Boeing Drone Aircraft

The MQ-25 Industry Team is a group of companies working together to deliver a vital aerial refueling capability to the U.S. Navy.

The team includes Aitech Defense Systems, Astronics, BAE Systems, Collins Aerospace, Cox & Company, Crane Aerospace & Electronics, Cubic, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, GE, Harris Corporation, Héroux-Devtek, Honeywell, Innovative Power Solutions, L3 Commercial Aviation, Moog Aircraft Group, Parker Hannifin, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, and Triumph Group.

These companies are all contributing their expertise and resources to make the MQ-25 a success.

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