The US Navy's aircraft carrier-based aerial replenishment system (CBARS), is the mq-25, or stingray. It is designed to provide a refueling capability to increase the range of deployed fighter jets. The Stingray is also compatible with the launch, recovery and catapult systems on a carrier.
MQ-9 Resaper
The United States Navy's mq 9 reaper is an unmanned air vehicle used to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations on aircraft carriers. It has a variety of sensors and a multi-mode communications suite. Precision weapons are also available. It is a versatile aircraft that can be employed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, combat search and rescue, buddy-lase, convoy and raid overwatch and precision strike missions.
While the mq 9 reaper is primarily employed to collect intelligence information, it also provides significant loiter time for other tasks such as surveillance and strike missions. It's a highly maneuverable, high altitude, high speed vehicle that can be paired to other UAVs for joint operation against tactical targets like ad hoc command control stations, ground control station, radar platforms.
As such, it can be utilized to conduct precision strikes against high-value targets such as enemy ships and aircraft. The mq9 reaper's payload space is very large. This allows for many types of weaponry and electronics, such as Paveway laser bombs, JDAM satellite bombs, and Quickstrike marine mines.
You can also equip it with electronic countermeasures or anti-ship missiles. It can be transported anywhere with an aircraft carrier and is versatile.
The aircraft was tested by the Bush class aircraft carrier during a recent test flight. It was flown in a loop around its deck. It was also driven around on the deck in taxi mode through various landing and takeoff maneuvers.
Boeing is developing the MQ-25, a unmanned aerial tanker, under a development agreement. It can be controlled mid flight by an F/A-18 Super Hornet or E-2D Advanced Hawkeye pilot while carrying out its core mission of tanking. Although the drone will be able to fit into operations on a carrier deck or in the air, it will require additional training and guidance.
MQ 25 Stingray drone
The mq-25 stingray is being developed by the US Navy for its Carrier-Based Aerial Refueling System (CBARS). It will be operated by warrant officers. It will eventually replace the existing fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters as well as Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters.
It is currently being built at the Boeing facility near St Louis, Missouri. The MQ-25 can be used to refuel aircraft by using the standard probe/drogue method similar to that used by Navy's existing aircraft.
Boeing is developing mq-25, which will be part of the US Navy’s unmanned aerial refueling (carrier-based) program. This $805 million contract will allow Boeing to develop the drone. This is the first step in a journey that will ultimately result in more than 70 of these drones in the Navy's fleet.