Boeing Completes First Flight of MQ-25 Refuelling Drone, Enhancing US Navy Capabilities
Boeing has successfully completed the first test flight of its operationally-configured MQ-25 Stingray autonomous refuelling drone. The flight took place on April 25 at the Boeing industrial site at MidAmerica airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. This milestone comes seven years after initial test flights with a prototype. The MQ-25 is designed to provide aerial refuelling support to the US Navy's carrier air wings, replacing the current 'buddy tanking' system using F/A-18E/F strike fighters. The test involved ground operators from Boeing and the US Navy executing maneuvers to validate the drone's flight controls and engine performance. The US Navy plans to integrate the MQ-25 into its carrier operations, with a target for initial operational capability by 2027. 
