The Boeing MQ-25 Stingray is an aerial refueling drone that resulted from the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System program, which grew out of the earlier Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike program.
The Navy released the final MQ-25 Stingray request for proposals in October 2017 to Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics.
On 19 December 2017, Boeing unveiled its prototype aircraft entrant incorporating lessons learned from the Boeing Phantom Ray flying wing and its other unmanned aerial systems.
Boeing's MQ-25 design is not new for the tanking mission, but Boeing says that was considered when designing it.
On 30 August 2018, the U.S. Navy announced Boeing as the winner of the competition and awarded an $805 million development contract for four MQ-25A aircraft to be completed by August 2024.
In late April 2019, the first MQ-25 test aircraft was taken by road from Boeing's technical plant at St. Louis's Lambert International Airport across the Mississippi River to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, which is conjoined to Scott Air Force Base.
In December 2020, Boeing released video showing the first flight of the MQ-25 with Cobham aerial refueling store externally mounted.
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