Lockheed Martin's Advanced Development Programs, better known as Skunk Works, has released concept images of its MQ-25 'Stingray' design, an unmanned carrier-launched tanker plane. The refueling drone will compete against designs from Boeing and General Atomics for a Navy contract to build a fleet of the aircraft.

The Navy's MQ-25 program seeks a refueling drone that can perform catapult-launched takeoffs and arrested landings on aircraft carriers. The tanker should be capable of passing 14,000 lbs. of fuel to other planes at a range of 500 nautical miles from the carrier. Such a tanker could significantly extend the operating range of carrier-based fighter jets like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C Joint Strike Fighter. A Super Hornet, for example, has a strike range of about 450 nautical miles. The Stingray could extend that range to more than 700 nmi.

Concept image of a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ prototype tanker for the U.S. Navy MQ-25 ’Stingray’ competition taking off from a carrier flight deck. Lockheed Martin

The Navy is currently evaluating the tanker design from Skunk Works, as well as a drone from Boeing's Phantom Works known as the T-1 and a joint project between Boeing Autonomous Systems and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems on another MQ-25 prototype. Boeing's T-1 prototype is currently conducting flight deck testing on a painted runway.

Lockheed's single-engine flying wing design is somewhat reminiscent of the B-2 Spirit, though with only a slightly longer wingspan than a fighter jet. It will need to be compact, and equipped with folding wings, to operate in the tight confines of an aircraft carrier flight deck.

Concept image of a Lockheed Martin Skunk Works MQ-25 prototype conducting an arrested landing on an aircraft carrier. Lockheed Martin

Though the program does not call for stealth capabilities, Skunk Works' MQ-25 design's low profile could have modest stealth benefits. A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin told Popular Mechanics that it is working toward the Navy's requirements, and stealth is not one of them, but Lockheed "can absolutely rapidly integrate stealth into additional mission systems." The tanker, however, is designed to carry gas, and the concept images from Lockheed show the aircraft flying with a fuel pod mounted on its belly.



The aircraft design appears to have a camera and possibly sensors on its nose, likely for a remote pilot to fly the drone. It's possible that the Lockheed MQ-25 design also calls for some autonomous systems, such as collision avoidance or an automatic recall to the carrier.

Concept image of two Lockheed Martin MQ-25 prototypes of the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Lockheed Martin

Skunk Works also revealed its X-44A prototype at the Los Angeles County Airshow, a never-before-seen UAV demonstrator from the early 2000s that Lockheed says was part of a family of test vehicles. The timing of the unveiling is likely intended to showcase Lockheed's history of UAV aircraft designs ahead of the MQ-25 competition.

The Navy is expected to award a contract for the MQ-25 in around September of this year, with the first deliveries coming in the early or mid-2020s.

*Correction: The images released by Lockheed Martin are concept images of the MQ-25 that Skunk Works plans to build.



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