Navy/Boeing Test Refueling from Drone Tanker

By Larry E. Nazimek

On June 4, 2021, Boeing and the Navy made history with the first aerial refueling, where the tanker was an unmanned drone. This test flight took off from the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport near Mascoutah, Ill., not far from the Boeing facility in St. Louis where the Stingray and the Super Hornet are made.

The drone was a MQ-25 T1 Stingray, and the receiver was a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, flown by a Navy crew. The “T1” refers to the fact that this drone is a Boeing test asset. As a civilian aircraft, it even has an “N number,” N234MQ. For ground operations, takeoff, and landing, the MQ-25 was controlled by a Boeing test pilot, but outside of that, it operates on a pre-programmed route of flight.

“This team of professionals was integral in the successful flight. Over the next few years, we will work side-by-side with Boeing to deliver this capability that will greatly enhance the future carrier air wing,” said Rear Admiral Brian Corey, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.

“This history-making event is a credit to our joint Boeing and Navy team that is all-in on delivering MQ-25’s critical aerial refueling capability to the fleet as soon as possible. Their work is the driving force behind the safe and secure integration of unmanned systems in the immediate future of defense operations,” Leanne Caret, President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security added.

In the initial part of the flight, the F/A-18 flew in close formation behind the drone to ensure performance and stability prior to refueling, flying at relevant speeds and altitudes. With that part safely completed, the drogue was extended and the F/A-18 plugged the drogue to receive the scheduled fuel offload.

Prior to this flight, there were some 25 test flights of the MQ-25 T1, putting it through the flight envelope through which it might be tasked to perform. Additional envelope expansion flights will continue before MQ-25 T1 is shipped to Norfolk, Va. for deck handling trials aboard a Navy aircraft carrier later this year.

The Boeing MQ-25 T1 test asset transfers fuel to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet on June 4, marking the first time in history that an unmanned aircraft has refueled another aircraft. The MQ-25 Stingray will assume the carrier-based tanking role currently performed by F/A-18s, allowing for better use of the combat strike fighters and helping extend the range of the carrier air wing. (Photo by Kevin Flynn)

The MQ-25s will take on the role currently being performed by F/A-18s, carrying air-refueling pods. The Navy does not have as many F/A-18s as it would like, so relieving them of the need to perform as tankers is like adding them to the number available to face our enemies.

For carrier operations, tankers like the KC-135 or KC-10 are generally not in place when the fighters are needed. Consequently, to extend the range of the planes, they rely on similar aircraft to perform in the role of tankers. They take off along with the fighters and refuel them in route to their assigned missions. A flight of four fighters may be accompanied by four aircraft in the tanker role. They then return to the carrier and launch again for the return of the fighters. In addition, a tanker aircraft must be airborne during recovery operations, focusing on refueling aircraft in and around carrier-controlled airspace. Such refueling can be a lifesaver in case an on-deck emergency temporarily closes the “runway.” Furthermore, if a plane does not successfully trap the cables and must go around, a low-fuel situation could develop.

With drones serving as tankers, several could be involved in a mission, just as several F/A-18s with air-refueling pods would be used. Each drone would be controlled, for taxi, takeoff, and landing, by separate controllers, and outside of that, would be on a pre-programmed scenario.

The MQ-25 Stingray is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3700N engine, is 51.0 feet long, with a wingspan of 75.0 feet and a height of 9.8 feet. With wings folded for storage on an aircraft carrier, the wingspan is 31.3 feet and the height is 15.7 feet.

It won’t be long before the MQ-25 is commonplace on our aircraft carriers. By replacing the F/A-18s in the tanker role, they will allow for better use of the combat strike fighters and help extend the range of the carrier air wing.

In the initial part of the flight, the F/A-18 flew in close formation behind the drone to ensure performance and stability prior to refueling, flying at relevant speeds and altitudes. With that part safely completed, the drogue was extended and the F/A-18 plugged the drogue to receive the scheduled fuel offload.

Prior to this flight, there were some 25 test flights of the MQ-25 T1, putting it through the flight envelope through which it might be tasked to perform. Additional envelope expansion flights will continue before MQ-25 T1 is shipped to Norfolk, Va. for deck handling trials aboard a Navy aircraft carrier later this year.

The MQ-25s will take on the role currently being performed by F/A-18s, carrying air-refueling pods. The Navy does not have as many F/A-18s as it would like, so relieving them of the need to perform as tankers is like adding them to the number available to face our enemies.

For carrier operations, tankers like the KC-135 or KC-10 are generally not in place when the fighters are needed. Consequently, to extend the range of the planes, they rely on similar aircraft to perform in the role of tankers. They take off along with the fighters and refuel them in route to their assigned missions. A flight of four fighters may be accompanied by four aircraft in the tanker role. They then return to the carrier and launch again for the return of the fighters. In addition, a tanker aircraft must be airborne during recovery operations, focusing on refueling aircraft in and around carrier-controlled airspace. Such refueling can be a lifesaver in case an on-deck emergency temporarily closes the “runway.” Furthermore, if a plane does not successfully trap the cables and must go around, a low-fuel situation could develop.

With drones serving as tankers, several could be involved in a mission, just as several F/A-18s with air-refueling pods would be used. Each drone would be controlled, for taxi, takeoff, and landing, by separate controllers, and outside of that, would be on a pre-programmed scenario.

The MQ-25 Stingray is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3700N engine, is 51.0 feet long, with a wingspan of 75.0 feet and a height of 9.8 feet. With wings folded for storage on an aircraft carrier, the wingspan is 31.3 feet and the height is 15.7 feet.

It won’t be long before the MQ-25 is commonplace on our aircraft carriers. By replacing the F/A-18s in the tanker role, they will allow for better use of the combat strike fighters and help extend the range of the carrier air wing.

The MQ-25 Stingray is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3700N engine, is 51.0 feet long, with a wingspan of 75.0 feet and a height of 9.8 feet. With wings folded for storage on an aircraft carrier, the wingspan is 31.3 feet and the height is 15.7 feet.

It won’t be long before the MQ-25 is commonplace on our aircraft carriers. By replacing the F/A-18s in the tanker role, they will allow for better use of the combat strike fighters and help extend the range of the carrier air wing.

With drones serving as tankers, several could be involved in a mission, just as several F/A-18s with air-refueling pods would be used. Each drone would be controlled, for taxi, takeoff, and landing, by separate controllers, and outside of that, would be on a pre-programmed scenario.

The MQ-25 Stingray is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE3700N engine, is 51.0 feet long, with a wingspan of 75.0 feet and a height of 9.8 feet. With wings folded for storage on an aircraft carrier, the wingspan is 31.3 feet and the height is 15.7 feet.

It won’t be long before the MQ-25 is commonplace on our aircraft carriers. By replacing the F/A-18s in the tanker role, they will allow for better use of the combat strike fighters and help extend the range of the carrier air wing.