Boeing Wins First MQ-25A Stingray Production Contract: $562 Million Deal With the US Navy
The US Navy has awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract covering the first low-rate initial production (LRIP) batch of the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned refueling aircraft. Signed on September 14, 2026, the award moves the programme from development into production and sets up the Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft.
At a Glance
- Contract value: $562 million, fixed-price incentive type.
- Covers three Lot 1 LRIP aircraft, plus advance funding for long-lead components on three additional Lot 2 aircraft.
- Total MQ-25As now under contract: 14, against a Navy program of record of 76 aircraft.
- Stingray completed its first flight in April 2026 and received Milestone C production approval in May 2026.
- Aircraft are built at Boeing facilities in St. Louis and Mascoutah, Illinois, where seven test articles are already in production.
- First LRIP deliveries are expected in 2029; the Lot 2 contract is planned for 2027.
Background
MQ-25 answers a long-standing Navy requirement: freeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from the “buddy tanker” role that pulled them away from strike missions. By taking over aerial refueling, Stingray should extend the reach of the carrier air wing while returning Super Hornets to combat-focused sorties. The programme has had to solve carrier-specific engineering problems — automated launch and recovery, buddy-store refueling gear, and full deck integration — but this year’s flight test and production milestone kept it broadly on schedule. Troy Rutherford, MQ-25 program vice president, said the award “shows how we’re redefining naval aviation and expanding what autonomy can do.”
Regional Impact
Turkish carrier aviation is still centered on strike and reconnaissance drones — Bayraktar TB3 and KIZILELMA flying from TCG Anadolu — rather than a dedicated tanker platform. The MQ-25A’s shift to production is nonetheless a signal for how major navies may structure future air wings, with unmanned aircraft absorbing support roles so crewed jets can concentrate on combat missions — a concept worth watching as Türkiye’s own carrier and UCAV plans mature.
FAQ
What does the MQ-25A do? It launches from a carrier deck and refuels crewed aircraft such as the F/A-18 in flight, extending the air wing’s operational range.
When will it enter service? First LRIP deliveries are expected in 2029, followed by operational testing.
How many will be built? The Navy’s program of record calls for 76 aircraft; 14 are now under contract.
