New Software puts Navy F/A-18 Pilot in Command of MQ-25 Stingray UAV Tanker
Summary
The MQ-25 Stingray is an aerial refueling drone designed to provide on-demand refueling support for carrier-based aircraft, extending their endurance and operational flexibility. The U.S. Navy plans to procure more than 70 MQ-25s to replace F/A-18E Super Hornets in the aerial refueling role, freeing up more Super Hornets for operational missions. The MQ-25 completed its first air-to-air refueling operation with a manned receiver aircraft, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, on June 4, 2021.
The development and deployment of the MQ-25 Stingray represent a significant milestone in naval aviation, showcasing the growing integration of unmanned systems to complement traditional manned aircraft carriers. This evolution is expected to increase the versatility and efficiency of carrier-based operations in the future, potentially expanding the MQ-25's roles to include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.
The inset shows the AAR at the simulator. (Boeing)
Boeing Tests Software That Allows Super Hornet Pilot To Command MQ-25 During Refueling - The Aviationist
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Boeing advances Manned-Unmanned Teaming for Naval Aviation through aerial refueling operations in simulator environment.
Boeing has made significant strides in advancing its manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology.
The company showcased the maturity of software critical for future U.S. Navy operations in a simulator lab, where an F/A-18 pilot remotely commanded an MQ-25 Stingray UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) to perform aerial refueling, highlighting the seamless integration of manned and unmanned platforms.
In particular, using the existing communication links, the pilot sent commands to the MQ-25 to release a refueling drogue and refuel the Super Hornet.
This breakthrough software will enhance communication efficiency between the F/A-18 and MQ-25, enabling safer and more flexible refueling operations over extended distances.
“MQ-25 is designed to typically receive commands from air vehicle pilots on an aircraft carrier. This software will add a second option, enabling pilots to initiate commands right from their cockpit,” said Alex Ewing, F/A-18 New Product Development lead, in a public statement.
Boeing’s software will significantly reduce the time it takes for an F/A-18 to communicate with an MQ-25, giving pilots greater flexibility in refueling from longer distances.
The MQ-25 Stingray
The Boeing MQ-25 Stingray is an aerial refueling drone that resulted from the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS) program, which grew out of the earlier Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program.
The genesis of the MQ-25 Stingray traces back to the U.S. Navy’s imperative for a carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of providing aerial refueling to carrier strike groups’ assets. The primary mission of the MQ-25 is to deliver on-demand refueling support, significantly extending the endurance and operational flexibility of carrier-based aircraft.
The MQ-25 Stingray carried out the first ever air-to-air refueling operation between an unmanned tanker and a manned receiver aircraft, (a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet) on June 4, 2021. The milestone was achieved by the Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset flying from MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah (Illinois) and employing the Cobham Aerial Refueling Store (ARS), the same used by F/A-18s, to perform the refueling operation.
The U.S. Navy is planning to procure more than 70 MQ-25, which will replace the F/A-18E Super Hornets in the aerial refueling role they currently have as part of the Carrier Air Wing, becoming also the first operational carrier-based UAV. This way, the Carrier Air Wing will have more Super Hornets available for operational missions, without the need to reserve some of them for the AAR (Air-to-Air Refueling) mission.
“MQ-25 increases the overall lethality of the CVW by relieving the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet of the aerial refueling mission, enabling ordnance to replace refueling stores on the F/A-18’s pylons. As secondary missions, MQ-25 will conduct recovery tanking and organic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) to the CSG,” says the website of Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Squadron Ten (VUQ-10), the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) for the MQ-25 Stingray, established on Oct. 01, 2022, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Two MQ-25A squadrons, VUQ-11 and 12, will be established.
The future
Tthe development and deployment of the MQ-25 Stingray represent a significant milestone in naval aviation.
The MQ-25 is designed to augment aircraft carrier operations by providing critical aerial refueling capabilities, thereby extending the operational reach of carrier-based strike aircraft. Beyond its primary role in aerial refueling, the MQ-25 also opens doors for future unmanned missions, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and potentially even strike missions.
This evolution in naval aviation underscores the shifting landscape towards greater integration of unmanned systems, complementing the role of traditional manned aircraft carriers. As more unmanned platforms like the MQ-25 become operational, naval forces can anticipate increased versatility and efficiency in executing a broader range of mission profiles, redefining the future of carrier-based operations.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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Boeing Validates Software for Future Manned Unmanned Refueling Missions
- Software advancing after years of development and testing; now encompassing real aircraft hardware
- Results significantly reduce communication time between F/A-18 pilots and unmanned MQ-25 Stingrays
ST. LOUIS, May 1, 2024 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has advanced its manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology using a digital F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-25 Stingray. The testing shows the software is maturing for future U.S. Navy use and a potential to deploy the teaming capability on both F/A-18 Block II and III Super Hornets.
In a simulator lab, a Boeing-led team virtually demonstrated an F/A-18 pilot commanding an unmanned MQ-25 to release a refueling drogue and refuel the Super Hornet, using existing communications links on both platforms.
The new software is a maturation of tests Boeing has previously done. In addition to the upgraded software, test teams pulled in hardware and datalinks already installed on both platforms to run the finalized software further proving Boeing’s readiness to deliver this capability to the Navy.
“MQ-25 is designed to typically receive commands from air vehicle pilots on an aircraft carrier. This software will add a second option, enabling pilots to initiate commands right from their cockpit,” said Alex Ewing, F/A-18 New Product Development lead.
The Boeing-created software will significantly reduce the time it takes for an F/A-18 to communicate with an MQ-25, giving pilots greater flexibility in refueling from longer distances.
“The goal of the demonstrations was to make MUM-T refueling as real as possible,” said Juan Cajigas, director, Advanced MQ-25 program. “Aerial refueling is like a ballet as two airplanes come together. To be able to direct the activities via a single pilot, safely and efficiently, is a major step forward in aerial refueling technology.”
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Contact:
Randy Jackson
Boeing MQ-25 Program Communications
314-435-7588
randy.jackson@boeing.com
Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com
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Boeing Advances US Navy MUM-T Aerial Refueling Software With Digital F/A-18 Super Hornet & MQ-25 Stingray Trial
Using existing communication systems, Boeing has virtually demonstrated enhanced communication between the refueling drone and the manned aircraft.
Summary
- Boeing virtually validated MUM-T for refueling missions, reducing communication time significantly.
- MQ-25 can be commanded to refuel from the cockpit, offering F/A-18 pilots more flexibility.
- The MQ-25 drone extends range for Super Hornets and other fighters, showcasing future unmanned carrier aviation.
After years of development and testing, Boeing recently revealed that it has virtually validated software for Future Manned Unmanned Refueling Missions using a simulator lab. According to Boeing, the results show that the communication time between F/A-18 pilots and unmanned MQ-25 Stringrays has been significantly reduced during refueling. This comes after the Marine Corps demonstrated the ability to refuel a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter while it was carrying a stripped-down F-35 fighter jet.
Boeing demonstrates MUM-T refueling digitally
Boeing tested its advanced manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology using a digital F/A-18 Super Hornet and MQ-25 Stingray. In the simulation, the F/A-18 pilot commanded an MQ-25 drone to release the refueling drogue and refuel the Super Hornet using the existing communication links on both platforms. The goal of the demonstration is to make MUM-T refueling as real as possible. It is planned this will allow F/A-18 pilots to have greater flexibility in refueling from longer distances.
Photo: Boeing
Boeing quotes the project's development lead as saying, “The MQ-25 is designed to typically receive commands from air vehicle pilots on an aircraft carrier. This software will add a second option, enabling pilots to initiate commands right from their cockpit.” Refueling is a difficult maneuver and has been likened to a ballet between two airplanes. The MQ-25 has already demonstrated its ability to refuel the Super Hornets in real life, but this test demonstrated a new level of communication capabilities between the manned and unmanned aircraft.
Related
How Long Does Aerial Refueling Take?
The process can significantly extend aircraft operating range.
The importance of in-air-refueling
While most air forces are focused on defending their own country's airspace and areas immediately around it, the United States Air Force is built for power projection across the world. One critical capability an air force needs to project power is tanker aircraft. According to data from WDMMA, while the Russian Air Force operates a paltry fleet of 19 tankers, the US Air Force operates 555 tanker aircraft.
But the Navy can't operate large tanker aircraft off its carriers. One workaround is the new MQ-25 refueling drone. The MQ-25 grew out of the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS) program and first flew in September 2019. The advanced tanker-drone remains in development and demonstrated its ability to refuel aircraft in June 2021 (when it refueled a Super Hornet). It has a range of 580 miles when delivering around 16,000 lbs of fuel. It can also be armed with anti-ship missiles.
Boeing states that the MQ-25 drone is bringing the future of unmanned aircraft carrier aviation to the Navy. When operational, it is planned to extend the combat range of F/A-18 Super Hornets, Boeing EA-18G Growlers, and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters. It is one of several advanced drones being developed by the Air Force and Navy to work with manned aircraft fleets. The future NGAD sixth-generation fighter will be almost a command center for powerful loyal wingman drones (called Collaborative Combat Aircraft).
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