Navy Awards Boeing First MQ-25 Production Contract

The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price-incentive contract for the first production lot of MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based tankers. Moving beyond development aircraft, the lot begins the transition toward an operational uncrewed refuelling capability for carrier air wings. MQ-25 is intended to extend fighter range and free F/A-18E/F aircraft from buddy-tanker missions while operating from the flight deck within existing carrier procedures. The award is a major acquisition milestone, although aircraft quantity, delivery timing and final fleet scale remain governed by subsequent contracts and testing progress.