DefenseUS Navy's MQ-25 Stingray uncrewed tanker completes first taxi test
The US Navy’s first production-representative MQ-25 Stingray uncrewed tanker has completed its initial low-speed taxi test, marking a key step toward the program’s long-awaited first flight.
The taxi test took place at Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport near St. Louis, Missouri. Boeing released video footage showing the aircraft taxiing under its own power, confirming that ground testing has progressed to the final phase before flight operations.
According to the Navy, personnel from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-23 and the uncrewed-focused UX-24 participated in the event. Taxi testing is required to validate braking, steering, propulsion, and ground-handling characteristics before flight clearance is granted.
The aircraft involved is the first production-representative MQ-25, distinct from the earlier T1 demonstrator that has supported flight and ground testing in previous years. The T1 aircraft does not fully reflect the final production configuration.
The newly released video provides a clearer view of the MQ-25’s finalized external configuration, including its top-mounted air inlet and exhaust integrated into the fuselage, as well as a retractable sensor turret beneath the nose.
The Navy has stated that, while the MQ-25’s primary mission is aerial refueling, the aircraft will also have a secondary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance role.
Boeing is currently producing nine pre-production MQ-25 aircraft, five of which are allocated to structural and fatigue testing. The Navy plans to acquire a total of 76 MQ-25s and most recently has targeted 2027 for initial operational capability.
The program has experienced delays compared with earlier schedules. Initial plans called for deliveries to begin in 2022 and for the aircraft to reach operational status by 2024. The first flight milestone, originally expected before the end of 2025, has now shifted into 2026.
Despite schedule pressure, the Navy continues to view the MQ-25 as a critical capability. The aircraft is intended to take over the carrier-based aerial refueling mission currently performed by F/A-18F Super Hornets, reducing airframe fatigue and freeing crewed fighters for other roles.
The MQ-25 is also being used by the Navy as a foundational program for future carrier-based uncrewed aviation. Alongside flight testing, work continues on command-and-control systems, deck-handling procedures, and training structures required to integrate the Stingray into routine carrier operations.
https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/2017288778012840197
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