USS Ronald Reagan Now Ready to Operate MQ-25A Drone Tankers

The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) has become the second U.S. Navy aircraft carrier equipped to operate the MQ-25A Stingray, the service’s first operational unmanned aircraft designed for carrier takeoffs. The installation of the Unmanned Air Warfare Center, completed in August, allows the ship to control the MQ-25A drone tanker. Unlike previous installations, all 11 necessary modifications were completed in a single 17-month period, aligning with the carrier’s recent overhaul.

The MQ-25A, built by Boeing, is intended to replace F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in aerial refueling missions, freeing up those fighters for combat roles and extending the range of the carrier air wing. The program has faced delays, with the first production-representative MQ-25A flying only in April of this year. The Navy plans to purchase 76 aircraft in total, but initial operational capability may slip to 2029 due to production issues and carrier availability.

The Unmanned Air Warfare Center combines the Navy’s command and control systems with Lockheed Martin’s MDCX software and other government-built equipment. The center can control the MQ-25A and future unmanned carrier aircraft. Testing is underway to confirm the system’s readiness for drone operations. The MQ-25A is expected to move to Naval Air Station Patuxent River later this year for further testing.