Boeing MQ-25 Makes First Flight

By Mark Nankivil

The Boeing MQ-25 T-1 Stingray unmanned aerial tanker testbed made its first flight from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, adjacent to Scott AFB, IL, on Thursday. Boeing will produce four pre-production aircraft under the current contract. The production MQ-25 is expected to operate from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and provide needed aerial refueling capability to current and future tactical fighter and strike aircraft types. Boeing has pioneered autonomous flight capability for over a decade, culminating in the MQ-25 program. The U.S. Navy plans to acquire 72 production Stingrays.

Here are some views of the preflight checks and takeoff for the two-hour flight: