Boeing has taken the wrapping off its proposal for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray program.
The first full picture of the aerial tanking UAV was released by the company on Dec. 19, revealing a stout wing-body-tail design with a canted V-tail.
The tanker drone has been designed by Boeing to refuel manned, carrier strike aircraft heading to faraway combat zones, including the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and Lockheed Martin F-35, and perhaps supporting aircraft like Northrop Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
The design appears to be an enlarged version of Boeing’s concept for the former Navy Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance and Strike (Uclass) program, which in 2016 morphed into the MQ-25 Stingray Carrier-Based Aerial Refueling System.
It is difficult to tell much about the aircraft because of the way the image is framed. But compared to Boeing’s Uclass concept, the body has clearly been enlarged for fuel capacity. The wing and tail appear to fold up to reduce the aircraft’s spot factor on the carrier deck.
The prototype was developed by Boeing’s Phantom Works advanced programs division. It is the basis for the company’s MQ-25 proposal, which must be submitted to the program office at Naval Air Systems Command by Jan. 3, 2018.
Defense companies typically wait until after the deadline for submissions has passed before showing their hand. But with the Christmas holiday approaching in the U.S., Boeing’s rivals probably won’t have enough time to alter their proposals to gain a competitive advantage.
Boeing’s version has not flown yet, with Don Gaddis, Phantom Works’ MQ-25 program lead, saying it will be ready for flight testing once a development contract is awarded. The aircraft is currently undergoing engine trials ahead of carrier deck handling demonstrations next year.
Boeing is one of four companies that have for several years been working directly with the Navy on carrier-based drone concepts, first for stealthy strike missions and now for utility work. The other contenders still in the race are Lockheed Martin and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which also have been developing advanced prototypes. Northrop Grumman declined to bid, having already built two X-47B demonstrators under the former Uclass technology demonstration effort.
The Navy’s main reason for pursuing an aerial tanker instead of a more complex surveillance and strike aircraft is to free up F/A-18E/Fs assigned to tanking duties for strike missions. Today, aircraft carriers assign anywhere from four to six Super Hornets equipped with 480-gal. refueling tanks and a centerline aerial refueling system, or buddy store, to tanking operations.
Instead, the Navy wants to buy up to 72 unarmed UAVs that are capable of offloading at least 14,000 lb. of gas beyond 500 mi. from the carrier at sea. Surveillance is a secondary mission. The aircraft must have accommodations for a buddy store, sensor turret and enough output power for additional appendages, like a maritime surveillance radar.
The initial contract is a fixed-price incentive type for the engineering and manufacturing development phase.
Four aircraft will be built initially to support development and flight testing. If successful, the winner can look forward to follow-on contracts for serial production.
Boeing believes its UAV is “best suited” to the mission. “Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the Navy for almost 90 years,” Gaddis says. “Our expertise gives us confidence in our approach.”