USS Ronald Reagan Joins Fleet with MQ-25A Stingray Drone Capabilities

The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) has joined the USS Theodore Roosevelt as the second US Navy aircraft carrier equipped to operate the Boeing MQ-25A Stingray drone tanker. The installation was completed in August 2026 after crews added an Unmanned Air Warfare Center to the ship. This control room includes the MD-5C ground control station, which is essential for commanding the drone.

All 11 necessary modifications to the USS Ronald Reagan were finished within a single 17-month period, aligning with the carrier's dry-dock overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The overhaul concluded with sea trials on 3 September 2026. The USS Theodore Roosevelt had previously received the first operational installation in March 2026.

The MQ-25A Stingray is designed to extend the reach of carrier air wings by providing aerial refueling, marking it as the first carrier-capable uncrewed aircraft to reach this stage of fleet integration. The Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program Office (PMA-268) oversees this effort, integrating the Navy's C4I network, Lockheed Martin's MDCX mission-planning software, and other government-built equipment into the control station.

While the program has made significant progress, reports suggest that the initial operational capability might face delays, potentially slipping to 2029.