Aircraft Carrier UAV Development & Drone Programs Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy Boeing

U.S. Navy controls MQ-25A from carrier more than 2,100 miles away

Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific remotely controlled a Boeing MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker at a Boeing facility more than 2,100 miles (3,380 km) away, using a satellite network. The test demonstrates long-range command connectivity for the Navy’s carrier-based refueling drone.

Discovered 2026-10-20T11:28:19.725430-07:00 | 2026-10-20T11:28:19.725430-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The test linked a deployed carrier to an unmanned aircraft more than 2,100 miles away, demonstrating the satellite-enabled reach of the Navy’s command architecture for the MQ-25A.
Remote control is central to operating an unmanned tanker from a carrier; the demonstration connects the aircraft’s development to future carrier-based refueling operations.

Reported By

Air Data News tecnodefesa.com.br