Boeing MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker refuels U.S Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet for the first time !

For the first time in history, the U.S. Navy and Boeing have demonstrated air-to-air refueling using unmanned aircraft.

The interaction happened between Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset and U.S Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet.

A U.S Navy report stated,

“During the flight, the receiver Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet approached the Boeing-owned MQ-25 T1 test asset, conducted a formation evaluation, wake survey, drogue tracking, and then plugged in with the unmanned aircraft. T1 then successfully transferred fuel from its Aerial Refueling Store to the F/A-18,”

The test had the MQ-25 originate at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and the F/A-18 was from the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-23 which is based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
The drill lasted about 4.5 hours, and the two aircraft were connected for dry or wet connects numerous times for a total time of more than 10 minutes, with a total of 325 pounds of fuel passed.
While on the face of it this looks like relatively low-key development, it has a larger implication.

In this video Defense Updates analyzes how MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker will take a bite off from Chinese DF-26 carrier-killer missile?
Let's get into

#DefenseUpdates #MQ-25 Stingray #USvsCHINA

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[slmyatt]

I first thought how silly to turn stealth drone into refueler. Then I realized air refuelers #1 target of enemy. So a stealth refueler is brilliant idea, and a good suicide drone in a pinch

[ThatCarGuy]

The US has had the best drone program for decades, glad to see it keep improving.
EDIT: Ps the DF26 can not maneuver.

[jmm]

Awesome, drone gas stations, keep carriers out of harms way and extend range of strike packages.

[raterNAZ]

About the DF-26... how do we actually know that they are capable of doing what they were "designed" to do?

[toddabbott]

The US ALREADY has a stealth cruise missile with a range of about AGM-158 JASSM-XR. This is the longest range version of this missile. They have 2000 of the shorter range missiles and they already started making this version in low quantities. They are ramping up production in 2022 for about 2900 total of this XR model. It has a range of 1100 miles. The F-35 can carry 2 and the its combat range is 683 miles. This means a carrier, without the need for in air refueling, can launch an F-35C and strike a target 1, 783 miles away or almost 3000km away. While the DF-26 has a range of 4000km (2, 485 miles) and is stationed at locations well within Chia to protect them (like their missile base in Xinyang in southern Henan province, it has never been tested at this range against a physical target and with this test they had to have a drone in the area to help guild it.

Assuming they have not shot down the drone that is likely painting it with a laser and the missile is using GPS to reach the designated are... both which the US can likely just jam... or shoot down the drone that likely has to make it past the Hawkeye radar plane and patrolling F-35 or A/F-18 and likely within the 400 mile radar range of the missile destroyers that would likely shoot not only the drone down, but the incoming ballistic missiles... as that is what they are there for. And while China SAYS they have 1000 of these missiles they only have about 40 launchers and likely 100-200 missiles tops.

China does have fixed silos, but the US likely knows the location of every one and as soon as the mobilize any of their launchers the US would likely put all ships and bases on high alert and notify Japan and Australia.

To top this all off the US has likely 10 B1-B in the area and those have a range of 7500 miles and they can carry 24 internally and another 7 externally of those AGM-158 JASSM-XR cruise missiles. There are 4 B1-B stationed in Guam. These could easily stay out of reach of any air defense systems in China and launch 124 at targets across China with each sortie... including radar defenses, SAM sites, missile silos and their mobile launcher sites. The US could launch dozens of these from literally anywhere across the globe and hit china. The US can sit well outside the range of all of the jets and other anti ship missiles, except their long range bomber, but those would get shot down the instant the left China's airspace. Within a few days the Chinese air force and navy would be crippled as well as most of their air defenses.

[Bellthorian]

Doesn't the refueling pod kill its low observability?

[eymeeraosaka]

Your Maths just don't add up. The DF26 has a range of 2500km. The F18 a range of about 300km. Plus its missile say 850km. Yes the tanker can extend the range of the F18. But first strike will go to the DF26 or similar ballistic missile that has a range longer than 850 km?

[jaysartori]

Now we're talking I was thinking what if you place that new stealthy SM-6 missile on one of our F-35C of F-35B? stealthy missile goes with stealthy fitghter!?

[larryphillips]

This is extremely old news. We did these tests waaay back in 1971 when we first started making drones. You just didn’t know about it until recently. Imagine the most advanced thing you can think of and then go ahead in time about 50 years passed what you just imagined and that’s what we are working on right now.

[andreasleonardo]

Nice video from excellent specific channel...its content several military news which labelling superiority of US airforce on the planet...including refuelling of aircrafts by drones tanker...its superior abilities of US technology capabilities👍👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 🦅🇺🇸🦅👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍

[trankt]

Do a video about US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) research into "transmedium flying submersibles" ....

[trankt]

Do a video on microwaves shooting drones from DARPA, or a piece on GREMLINS drones...

[Conan-nyum]

Stingray will soon be armed and be a attack drone aswell

[auro]

does it pump fuel from same fuel tank it uses?what if your pilot mistakes it to be an enemy plane and shoots it?

[haitianrefugee]

Hmmm? I thought they did this with the Grumman X47B?

[lairdriver]

13 billion for 72? So each drone is worth more than a Raptor?

[mitchellculberson]

The implications of this drone are remarkable.After they do the re-fueling the drone itself could be a weapon as well.Fill it up with fuel for the jets & send it to kamikaze into a target.On land, static & mobile units of the chinese missle batteries or at sea.Attack the chinese navy.Although it could be used as a 1st strike instrument or a last ditch effort by American forces on rhe enemy, whomever it may be.

[ycplum]

I was expecting something closer to a flying wing with greater fuel capacity.

[jpmangen]

They have no more than 30 df26 and it takes well over a year to replenish one.

[jacksonteller]

First strikes will be by submarines. By the time they move the carriers in close they are about to land troops on the islands including Hainan.