Navy Pushes MQ-25A Stingray IOC Back to 2029 while Production Aircraft Takes First Flight

The first unmanned tankers for the U.S. Navy won’t be ready to deploy on aircraft carriers until 2029, according to Navy budget documents. The Boeing MQ-25A Stingray, the unmanned carrier tanker developed to extend the range of the air wing, will reach initial operational capability three years late

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The first unmanned tankers for the U.S. Navy won’t be ready to deploy on aircraft carriers until 2029, according to Navy budget documents. The Boeing MQ-25A Stingray, the unmanned carrier tanker developed to extend the range of the air wing, will reach initial operational capability three years later than the Navy planned, according to budget documents reviewed by USNI News. The first MQ-25As were set to deploy this year aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) but a variety of delays from carrier availability to production manufacturing hang ups have pushed the initial operational test and evaluation and IOC to 2029, USNI

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