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MQ-25 Stingray begins taxi tests as Navy eyes first flight in coming months

The U.S. Navy's MQ-25 Stingray has begun ground taxi tests, advancing Boeing's carrier‑based unmanned aerial‑refuelling programme toward what the service now describes as an imminent first flight. The move follows an earlier push to achieve first flight in 2025 and signals renewed momentum in the flight‑test campaign.

Discovered 2026-01-30T11:57:14.784391-08:00 | 2026-01-30T11:57:14.784391-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Taxi tests are tangible progress toward flight‑test verification after previous flight‑test delay and schedule revisions.
Nearing first flight advances the Navy's carrier‑based aerial‑refuelling capability, shaping carrier air‑wing endurance and near‑term manned‑unmanned teaming priorities; see continued Navy interest in unmanned loyal‑wingman concepts.

Reported By

aerobuzz.de 19fortyfive.com milmag.pl realcleardefense.com news.ssbcrack.com forcaaerea.com.br

Sources Tracked: 19
First Seen: 2026-01-30T11:57:14.784391-08:00
Latest Update: 2026-02-05T10:35:24.700973-08:00
Coverage: Defense

Sources

Hype groups these reports into one evolving story so you can compare coverage without losing the thread.

2026-02-05T10:35:24.700973-08:00

(DE) First production MQ-25A has undertaken first taxi tests • aerobuzz.de

2026-02-05T07:42:16.788484-08:00

MQ-25 Stingray Completes Low-Speed Taxi Trials, Advancing Toward Operational Carrier Refueling • 19fortyfive.com

2026-02-04T05:55:50.062058-08:00

(PL) Trials of the first operational MQ-25A Stingray tanker • milmag.pl

2026-02-02T14:00:22.264124-08:00

First production‑representative MQ‑25A Stingray taxis at Boeing as carrier tanker program advances • realcleardefense.com

2026-02-02T13:54:53.092511-08:00

Boeing Completes First Ground Tests of MQ-25 Stingray Drone for U.S. Navy • news.ssbcrack.com

2026-02-02T13:08:26.450124-08:00

(PT) First production MQ-25A Stingray completes taxi tests • forcaaerea.com.br

2026-02-02T12:15:26.840992-08:00

(ES) After significant delays, the U.S. Navy’s new MQ-25 refueling drone completed its first ground tests • zona-militar.com

2026-02-02T10:34:31.730267-08:00

US carrier-based aircraft refueling drone starts ground taxi trials • interestingengineering.com

2026-02-02T08:16:55.899492-08:00

(DE) Unmanned refuelling aircraft for Navy fighters — Boeing MQ-25A Stingray begins taxi tests • flugrevue.de

2026-02-02T06:13:58.912296-08:00

(ES) Start of taxi tests for Boeing MQ-25 production aircraft • fly-news.es

2026-02-01T23:08:15.888331-08:00

MQ-25A Stingray completes first low-speed taxi test; Navy targets first flight early 2026 • uasvision.com

2026-02-01T07:51:06.320158-08:00

U.S. Navy MQ-25A Stingray Completes First Taxi Test, Advances Toward Carrier Operations • aviationnews.eu

2026-02-01T04:14:49.699694-08:00

Boeing and U.S. Navy begin ground tests of first production MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker aircraft • defence-industry.eu

2026-01-31T15:25:01.973139-08:00

MQ-25A Stingray Completes First Taxi Test, Moves Closer to Carrier Operations • aviationnews.eu

2026-01-31T12:55:15.981729-08:00

(NL) US Navy's first operational tanker drone nearly flight-ready • pilootenvliegtuig.nl

2026-01-31T06:59:06.932843-08:00

U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray Unmanned Tanker Begins Taxi Trials • The Aviationist

2026-01-31T03:45:01.209054-08:00

U.S. Navy’s first operational MQ-25A completes autonomous taxi test • defence-blog.com

2026-01-31T02:16:00.570212-08:00

US Navy's MQ-25 Stingray uncrewed tanker completes first taxi test • Air Data News

2026-01-30T11:57:14.784391-08:00

❗️ 2026-01-30T11:57:14.784391-08:00

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray Begins Taxi Tests Ahead of Imminent First Flight

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