Jane Edwards
Lockheed Martin has launched its proposed concept for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based aerial tanker drone program, USNI News reported Monday.
The drone concept from Lockheed’s Skunk Works business has a flying wing design equipped with a set of sensors in the aircraft’s nose and a single D-704 buddy tank.
Boeing and General Atomics unveiled their concepts for the Stingray program and their proposed unmanned tankers both feature a wing-body-tail design.
The Navy’s MQ-25 aircraft drone is designed to deliver approximately 15,000 pounds of fuel at a distance of 500 nautical miles from the aircraft carrier.
The report noted that the service earmarked $719 million in fiscal 2019 funds for the Stingray program and intends to purchase the first four aircraft by 2023.
The Navy expects the drone to reach initial operational capability by 2026, the report added.
