UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

U.S. Navy awards Boeing up to $562 million for first MQ-25A Stingray production lot

The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a fixed-price incentive contract worth up to approximately $562 million to begin low-rate initial production of three MQ-25A Stingray uncrewed aerial refueling aircraft. The carrier-based tankers are intended to extend the range and striking capacity of carrier air wings.

Discovered 2026-09-14T14:36:38.172351-07:00 | 2026-09-14T14:36:38.172351-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The contract launches production of the MQ-25A, moving the Navy’s carrier-based uncrewed refueling program from development into Low Rate Initial Production with three aircraft in Lot 1.
The Stingray is designed to refuel carrier aircraft in flight, increasing the range and operational flexibility of carrier air wings without relying solely on manned tanker aircraft.
The award is a significant production milestone for Boeing’s unmanned military aircraft business and provides a concrete indicator of the Navy’s commitment to integrating uncrewed systems into carrier operations.

Reported By

FlightGlobal news.ssbcrack.com Seeking Alpha