MQ-25 Becomes First Unmanned Aircraft to Refuel
Another Aircraft
For the first time in history, the U.S. Navy and
Boeing have demonstrated air-to-air refueling using an unmanned
aircraft, the Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset, to refuel another
aircraft.
During a test flight on 4 June, a MQ-25 T1 successfully
extended the hose and drogue from its U.S. Navy-issued aerial
refueling store (ARS) and transferred jet fuel to a U.S.
Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, demonstrating the MQ-25 Stingray's
ability to carry out its primary aerial refueling mission.
"This team of professionals was integral in the
successful flight," said Rear Adm. Brian Corey, who oversees the
Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.
"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."
During the initial part of the flight, the F/A-18
test pilot flew in close formation behind MQ-25 to ensure
performance and stability prior to refueling – a maneuver that
required as little as 20 feet of separation between the MQ-25 T1
air vehicle and the F/A-18 refueling probe. Both aircraft were
flying at operationally relevant speeds and altitudes.
With the
evaluation safely completed, the MQ-25 drogue was extended, and
the F/A-18 pilot moved in to "plug" with the unmanned aircraft and
receive the scheduled fuel offload.
The milestone comes after 25 T1 flights, testing
both aircraft and ARS aerodynamics across the flight envelope, as
well as extensive simulations of aerial refueling using MQ-25
digital models.
"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," said Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense,
Space & Security. "Their work is the driving force behind the safe
and secure integration of unmanned systems in the immediate future
of defense operations."
MQ-25 T1 will continue flight testing prior to
being shipped to Norfolk, Virginia, for deck handling trials
aboard a U.S. Navy carrier later this year.
The Boeing-owned T1 test asset is a predecessor to
the seven test aircraft Boeing is manufacturing under a 2018
contract award. The MQ-25 will assume the 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.
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