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
- Milestones4
- Operators—
- Components—
- Programs1
- Capabilities—
- Inputs—
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.
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
- UnveiledConfirmed
Boeing publicly reveals MQ-25 competition aircraft
- 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.
- MilestoneConfirmed
Milestone C approval for low-rate initial production
The acting Navy secretary announced Milestone C approval, moving the program into production and deployment.
- 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.
The latest 10 milestones. 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.
Programs & Awards1 programs
Programs1
- MQ-25 StingrayUnited States
Cost to the Government
Aircraft · Boeing
MQ-25A Stingray
Aircraft procurement, carrier mission-control systems and development contracts have distinct cost scopes.
Aircraft procurement budget / MQ-25
$184.333M
FY2025 request · PB2025 · Nominal USD; budget-year program scope
PB2025 $553M / three aircraft; includes advance procurement, not flyaway-only price. Separate UMCS funding excluded.
DoD Comptroller ↗U.S. inventory
Not verified
A current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.
Historical LRIP request
3
FY2025 request · PB2025 · U.S. only; stated source scope
PB2025 plan, not confirmed operational fleet size.
DoD Comptroller ↗Program-specific annual RDT&E
$214.9M / yr
FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot · Nominal USD; source budget basis
Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.
DoD Comptroller ↗Cost & funding breakdown
UMCS procurement request
$130.1M
FY2025 request · PB2025 · Nominal USD; source budget basis
Mission-control and shipboard integration funding is separate from the aircraft line.
DoD Comptroller ↗Historical milestones are not current fielding evidence
The 2018 award and PB2025 budget contain different planned IOC dates. Neither is used to assert that the aircraft is operational today.
Operations & sustainment
Annual operations & support
Not verified
A complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.
Cost over time · 6 observations
Each row retains its original scope and dollar basis. Changing quantities, service life and inflation can change the estimate without changing the price of building one unit.
| Observation | Measure | Amount | Dollar basis | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot | MQ-25 aircraft annual procurement Annual program funding in the cited budget vintage; not a unit price, contract award, or actual delivery count. | $748.2M | Nominal USD; source budget basis | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot | MQ-25 aircraft annual procurement Annual program funding in the cited budget vintage; not a unit price, contract award, or actual delivery count. | $596.3M | Nominal USD; source budget basis | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot | MQ-25 aircraft annual procurement Annual program funding in the cited budget vintage; not a unit price, contract award, or actual delivery count. | $553M | Nominal USD; source budget basis | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2023 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot | Program-specific annual RDT&E Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $250.9M / yr | Nominal USD; source budget basis | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2024 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot | Program-specific annual RDT&E Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $220.4M / yr | Nominal USD; source budget basis | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2025 · PB2025 historical budget snapshot | Program-specific annual RDT&E Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $214.9M / yr | Nominal USD; source budget basis | DoD Comptroller ↗ |
Contracts & purchasing · 1 records
Award values, ceilings and purchase agreements have different meanings. These records are not added together as total spending.
2018-08-30 · EMD award · ceiling
U.S. Navy → Boeing
$805.3M · 4 units in scope
Development, fabrication, test and support of four engineering aircraft; not four recurring production airframes.
NAVAIR ↗
International buyers
United States · 3 · U.S. procurement customer · Dated source snapshot
Budget request, not evidence of deliveries or a current fleet inventory.
DoD Comptroller ↗
Coverage & open research
- Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book.
- Current U.S. inventory requires additional public evidence; procurement quantities are not inventory.
- Complete system-specific annual operating and support costs were not established.
- MQ-25 StingrayFY2025 request $502M
Unit costs and contract unit prices for this system, 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.