Boeing

Picture of MQ-25 refueling

MQ-25™

Ready for the Mission

Picture of MQ-25 refueling.

Extending the carrier air wing reach

  • Boeing is bringing the future of unmanned aircraft carrier aviation to the U.S. Navy with the MQ-25.
  • An unmanned aircraft system designed for the U.S. Navy mission, it will provide the needed robust refueling capability, thereby extending the combat range of deployed Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler, and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters.
  • Our aircraft is ready for the mission, the flight deck and the U.S. Navy. Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the Navy for more than 90 years – we know the flight deck.
  • The MQ-25 brings the right combination of refueling, autonomy, and seamless carrier deck integration to meet the U.S. Navy’s goals.

    Ready for the Flight Deck

    Picture of MQ-25 over water landing on a carrier.

    Delivering unmatched carrier flight deck experience

    • Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the U.S. Navy for more than 90 years. We know carrier operations and can provide seamless integration with existing systems.
    • Boeing’s carrier heritage stretches back to the 1930s Douglas TBD Devastator to today’s latest-generation F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
    • We’ve applied all of that experience to our MQ-25 aircraft, bringing the best Boeing has to offer to the U.S. Navy once again.
    • In 2021 the MQ-25 T1 test asset was successfully integrated into the carrier environment, where a demonstration aboard the USS George H.W. Bush confirmed the functionality, capability and handling qualities of the unmanned aircraft’s deck handling system.

    Ready for the Navy

    Picture of MQ-25 in flight.

    Accelerating aerial refueling capabilities

    • The Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset is a predecessor to the engineering development model aircraft being produced under a 2018 contract award.
    • T1 is being used for early learning and discovery, laying the foundation for moving rapidly into development and test of the MQ-25.
    • Following its first flight in 2019, T1 accumulated approximately 125 hours in the air, helping to accelerate the team's understanding of the aircraft's aerodynamic performance and informing design decisions for both the air vehicle and its software.
    • MQ-25 T1 refueled three carrier-based aircraft – an F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2D Hawkeye and F-35C Lightning II – and became the first unmanned aircraft in history to refuel another aircraft.

    Industry Team

    Picture of MQ-25 in flight.

    The MQ-25 Industry Team is all-in on delivering this vital aerial refueling capability to help the U.S. Navy extend the range of the carrier air wing. The industry team includes:

    • Aitech Defense Systems
    • Astronics
    • BAE Systems
    • Collins Aerospace
    • Cox & Company
    • Crane Aerospace & Electronics
    • Cubic
    • Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions
    • GE
    • Harris Corporation
    • Héroux-Devtek
    • Honeywell
    • Innovative Power Solutions
    • L3 Commercial Aviation
    • Moog Aircraft Group
    • Parker Hannifin
    • Raytheon
    • Rolls-Royce
    • Triumph Group

    Feature Stories

    MQ-25

    MQ-25 wins AvWeek Program Excellence Award

    October 21, 2021 in Defense

    The Boeing-Navy team building the unmanned aerial refueler is focused on delivering capability to the fleet.

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    MQ-25 named “Best of What’s New” by Popular Science

    MQ-25 named “Best of What’s New” by Popular Science

    November 30, 2021 in Defense, Innovation

    The unmanned aerial refueler made history in 2021 by transferring fuel to three different Navy aircraft for the first time.    

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    MQ-25 refuels an F/A-18 fighter jet

    Navy, Boeing Make Aviation History with MQ-25 Becoming the First Unmanned Aircraft to Refuel Another Aircraft

    June 7, 2021 in Defense

    MQ-25 T1 test asset refuels a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, demonstrating its aerial refueling mission for the first time.

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    MQ-25 on the runway

    MQ-25 T1 test program hits new milestones

    March 15, 2021 in Defense, Innovation

    Ongoing test flights and digital modeling are the foundation to MQ-25 development.

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    MQ-25 takes off with aerial refueling store

    December 9, 2020 in Defense, Innovation

    Boeing and the Navy kicked off another round of flight testing for the MQ-25 T1 test asset with its first flight with an aerial refueling store.

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    Check out MQ-25's new aerial refueling gear

    Check out MQ-25's new aerial refueling gear

    July 23, 2020 in Defense

    Boeing’s MQ-25 T1 unmanned aerial refueling test asset will return to flight test later this year with a U.S. Navy aerial refueling store.

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    MQ-25 Completes First Test Flight

    MQ-25 Completes First Test Flight

    September 19, 2019 in Defense

    Boeing and the U.S. Navy successfully completed the first test flight of the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueler.

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    Ray of flight

    Ray of flight

    February 3, 2020 in Defense, Innovation

    The MQ-25 is at the forefront of autonomous flight

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    Videos

    MQ-25 is a trademark of the Department of the Navy