New topic for the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray UAV tanker
US Navy Establishes First Squadron To Operate Its Carrier-Based MQ-25 Stingray Tanker Drones
Effective today (October 1, 2020) , the U.S. Navy has officially established the first squadron that will operate its future MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based unmanned tankers from Boeing. The service does not expect to begin test flying more refined MQ-25 prototypes from actual carriers until the end of next year, at the earliest. As such, this unit will be focused in the meantime on training personnel to be as ready as possible to operate and maintain those drones when they begin arriving in the coming years.
The Navy first began the formal processing of standing up Unmanned Carrier Launched Multi-Role Squadron 10, abbreviated VUQ-10, in August, according to an official internal notice.
The Navy has said that it expects to buy at least 72 Stingrays, for a total cost of around $13 billion, and that it hopes to reach initial operational capability with the type in 2024.
Source:
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36859/navy-establishes-first-squadron-to-operate-its-carrier-based-mq-25-stingray-tanker-drones
