Aircraft Carrier   UAV Development & Drone Programs  

USS Theodore Roosevelt prepares for MQ-25 drone operations, but Navy deployment remains years away

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The USS Theodore Roosevelt is the first aircraft carrier equipped with a drone control center ready to support MQ-25 Stingray operations. Despite the ship’s readiness, the Navy does not expect to begin operational MQ-25 flying until 2029, years behind schedule.

Discovered 2026-08-07T10:59:35.421219-07:00 | 2026-08-07T10:59:35.421219-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The Theodore Roosevelt’s control center marks a concrete step toward integrating carrier-based unmanned aircraft into naval operations.
  • The Navy’s 2029 target for operational MQ-25 flying highlights a schedule delay that extends the wait for the drone’s intended carrier role.

Reported By

The War Zone
Sources Tracked
1
First Seen
2026-08-07T10:59:35.421219-07:00
Latest Update
2026-08-07T10:59:35.421219-07:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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