The Navy awarded a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract to the Boeing Company for the low-rate initial production of the MQ-25A Stingray, a carrier-based unmanned aircraft.
The contract funds three Lot 1 Stingrays and provides additional funding for advanced acquisition of long-lead components for three Lot 2 aircraft. Initial deliveries from Lot 1 are expected to begin in 2029.
According to Navy Capt. Daniel Fucito, the program manager for Unmanned Carrier Aviation, "Awarding this first LRIP contract marks a pivotal transition from development to operational reality." The MQ-25A program of record comprises 76 air vehicles, including four engineering development and manufacturing and five system demonstration test articles. Currently, seven test aircraft are in production.
The Stingray will provide the carrier air wing with organic refueling capability, allowing more F/A-18 Super Hornets to focus on strike missions. This will expand the wing's operational reach while preserving the service life of the aircraft and improving readiness across the Super Hornet fleet.