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MQ-25 Stingray and MQ-28 Ghost Bat test aboard carriers as Navy advances missile interceptors and Sidewinder/Standard Missile fo

A Boeing-owned MQ-25 Stingray T-1 demonstrator was embarked on the USS Nimitz during Fleet Exercise (FLEETEX) 250 in the Atlantic, underscoring ongoing carrier air-wing experimentation. Separately, the U.S. Navy is preparing to solicit prototypes for a Standard Missile-series follow-on, while RTX won a $1.1B modification for nearly 2,000 IM-9X Sidewinder deliveries. Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat is also set to fly alongside U.S. fighters in an upcoming Valiant Shield exercise.

Discovered 2026-06-29T11:42:40.861484-07:00 | 2026-06-29T11:42:40.861484-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Carrier-integrated unmanned/“wingman” concepts are moving from demonstration to exercise: MQ-25 T-1 is operating from USS Nimitz during FLEETEX 250, and MQ-28 is planned for Valiant Shield alongside U.S. fighters.
The Navy’s missile modernization path is taking shape for both near-term production and future capability: RTX is delivering nearly 2,000 IM-9X Sidewinders under a $1.1B contract modification as the service gears up to prototype a Standard Missile-series interceptor follow-on.
For defense primes and suppliers, the cluster signals near- and mid-term demand signals across naval air and missile defense—spanning test integration (MQ-25/MQ-28) and weapon system sustainment and replacement (IM-9X and Standard Missile follow-ons).

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