US Navy Successfully Tests Drone To Refuel Plane During Flight
The test demonstrated the MQ-25 Stingray’s ability to carry out its primary aerial refueling mission
[June 7, 2021: AFP]
The US Navy successfully used a Boeing drone to refuel an airplane during flight, the manufacturer said on Monday.
The Boeing MQ-25 T1 unmanned aircraft linked up with an F/A-18 Super Hornet during a June 4 test flight, "demonstrating the MQ-25 Stingray's ability to carry out its primary aerial refueling mission," the company said in a statement.
The T1 has already completed 25 test flights evaluating both its aerodynamics and air refueling systems, and is scheduled to be sent by the end of the year to an aircraft carrier in Virginia for further testing.
The Defense Department in 2018 awarded Boeing a $805 million contract to develop the aircraft.
It is intended to fill the tanker role currently played by the F/A-18, "allowing for better use of the combat strike fighters and helping extend the range of the carrier air wing," Boeing said.
The aircraft's development marks another step in the increasingly common integration of drones into military activities.
In 2013, a prototype stealth drone, the Northrop Grumman X-47B, made its first landing on a US aircraft carrier.
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Tags: #New_Innovation, #Aircraft, #Military, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
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Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.