Boeing Wins $12.7 Million Contract for MQ-25 Drone Upgrades
The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $12.7 million contract modification to upgrade electronic components on the MQ-25 Stingray, its first operational carrier-based drone.
The work covers non-recurring engineering and integration of updated Radio Frequency Blanker Unit and Encrypted Mass Storage System with an embedded Data Transfer System, installed on the aircraft.
The Radio Frequency Blanker Unit shields the aircraft's own transmissions from interfering with onboard sensors, while the mass storage system secures data collected or transferred during flight.
According to Rear Adm. Tony Rossi, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, 'The MQ-25A is not just an aircraft: it's the first step in integrating unmanned aerial refueling onto the carrier deck.'