Boeing has announced the transition of the MQ-25 drone to a new stage of testing. Yesterday, December 21, the company's press service on its official YouTube channel published a video with the movement of a "flying canister" on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush (CVN-77).
The video shows the drone rolling out of the hangar, taxiing along the deck, as well as getting to the starting position for takeoff. The next stage of the tests will be takeoffs and landings from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Earlier, the MQ-25 successfully passed the ground stage of testing, including refueling fighters in the air.
MQ-25 on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush
A new drone for the needs of the US Navy is being developed as part of the UCLASS (unmanned carrier launched airborne surveillance and strike) program. Initially, the Navy command planned to adopt an unmanned stealth bomber that could carry out bombing strikes while remaining invisible to air defense systems. The project was named RAQ-25, but was later renamed MQ-25 Stingray and redesignated as an unmanned tanker. At the same time, the US Navy command is counting on further increasing the capabilities of the drone, including giving it combat capabilities.
