The US Navy Used A Drone To Refuel A Fighter Jet In Mid-Air For The First Time

A drone has been used to refuel a US fighter jet in mid-air for the first time, as announced by the US Navy today. Watch footage below:

The purpose built Boeing drone - a T1 prototype for the MQ-25 Stingray - was launched from the MidAmerica Airport in Illinois. The uncrewed craft, which first flew in September 2019, refuelled an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet.

The Navy tweeted about the development with the caption: "Aviation history!"

The landmark test confirmed that uncrewed military aircraft could be used outside of tasks such as recon missions or wiping out targets. It means the Navy's expensive crewed fighter jets are free to take on other tasks.

The two aircraft were just 20 feet from each other, with the Stingray extending a hose to the Super Hornet. The Super Hornet connected it up to receive the fuel.

David Bujold, Boeing's MQ-25 program director, spoke to reporters about the flight on Monday. He confirmed that 325 of the 500 pounds of fuel available were transferred during the test flight, which lasted around four-and-a-half hours.

US Navy

Brian Corey, rear admiral, who oversees the Navy's Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, said in a statement: "This flight lays the foundation for integration into the carrier environment, allowing for greater capability toward manned-unmanned teaming concepts.

"MQ-25 will greatly increase the range and endurance of the future carrier air wing - equipping our aircraft carriers with additional assets well into the future."

Chad Reed, program manager for the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office added: "This is our mission, an unmanned aircraft that frees our strike fighters from the tanker role, and provides the Carrier Air Wing with greater range, flexibility and capability.

"Seeing the MQ-25 fulfilling its primary tasking today, fuelling an F/A-18, is a significant and exciting moment for the Navy and shows concrete progress toward realizing MQ-25's capabilities for the fleet."

Future testing over the coming months look set to incorporate flight envelope expansion, engine testing, and deck handling demonstrations aboard an aircraft carrier.

US Navy

Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said in a statement: "This history-making event is a credit to our joint Boeing and Navy team that is all-in on delivering MQ-25's critical aerial refuelling capability to the fleet as soon as possible.

"Their work is the driving force behind the safe and secure integration of unmanned systems in the immediate future of defence operations."

Topics: US News

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. She spent a few years working on festivals and events before joining LADbible. In her spare time, Amelia likes music and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

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