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Uncrewed aircraft · Air

MQ-25 Stingray

Carrier-based uncrewed aircraft designed for refueling and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. GAO’s 2025 assessment covers its aircraft and related control station segments.

Unveiled Dec 19, 2017

Uncrewed aircraftAirContract awardSep 14, 2026
An MQ-25 test aircraft on the flight deck of USS George H.W. Bush at sunset.

Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Hillary Becke · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Navy) · Shows the MQ-25 test aircraft during carrier deck handling trials, not a production delivery.

Milestones20172026
  1. UnveiledBoeing publicly reveals MQ-25 competition aircraft, confirmed
  2. MilestoneMQ-25A first flight from MidAmerica Airport, confirmed
  3. MilestoneMilestone C approval for low-rate initial production, confirmed
  4. Contract awardFirst low-rate initial production contract (Lot 1), confirmed

Carrier-based uncrewed aircraft designed for refueling and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. GAO’s 2025 assessment covers its aircraft and related control station segments.

Timeline4

  1. UnveiledConfirmed

    Boeing publicly reveals MQ-25 competition aircraft

    SourcesBoeing

  2. MilestoneConfirmed

    MQ-25A first flight from MidAmerica Airport

    The Navy announced this as the MQ-25A's first flight, from Boeing's facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.

    SourcesU.S. Navy

  3. MilestoneConfirmed

    Milestone C approval for low-rate initial production

    The acting Navy secretary announced Milestone C approval, moving the program into production and deployment.

    SourcesU.S. Navy

  4. Contract awardConfirmed

    First low-rate initial production contract (Lot 1)

    A $562 million fixed-price incentive contract to Boeing for three Lot 1 aircraft plus long-lead parts for Lot 2. First deliveries are expected in 2029.

    SourcesU.S. Navy

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Cost to the government

Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.

Programs & awards1 programs

Programs1

Sources4

  1. 1.
    Government recordStingray Cleared for Takeoff: MQ-25A Achieves First Flight, Milestone C Approval

    U.S. Navy · Sep 17, 2026 · Supports: System milestone

    “After a successful first flight April 25, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced May 19 that the MQ-25A Stingray received Milestone C approval, clearing the way to move into Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP).”
  2. 2.
    Government recordFirst Production Contract Awarded for MQ-25A Stingray

    U.S. Navy · Sep 14, 2026 · Supports: System milestone

    “The U.S. Navy awarded a Fixed Price Incentive contract to The Boeing Company, for the MQ-25A Stingray Lot 1 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), valued at $562,000,000.”
  3. 3.
    Government recordWeapon Systems Annual Assessment 2025 — MQ-25 Stingray, p. 137

    U.S. Government Accountability Office · Jun 11, 2025 · Supports: System

    “The Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray is a catapult-launched, uncrewed aircraft”
  4. 4.
    CompanyBoeing publicly reveals MQ-25 competition aircraft

    Boeing · Dec 19, 2017 · Supports: System milestone

    “for the first time is showing what it believes is the unmanned aircraft system”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.