The US Navy's carrier-based aerial and refueling system (CBARS), has the mq-25 stanchray as its aircraft. It is designed to provide a refueling capability to increase the range of deployed fighter jets. The Stingray can also be integrated seamlessly with the launch and recovery, catapult and launch systems of a carrier.
MQ-9 Reaper
The unmanned US Navy's mq-9 reaper is an aircraft carrier-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), operation. It is equipped with a wide range of sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons. 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.
Although the mq9reaper is designed to collect intelligence information it also has significant loiter times for other tasks, such as surveillance and strikes missions. It is maneuverable, fast, and highly maneuverable. You can pair it with other UAVs and conduct joint operations against targets such as radar platforms and ground control points.
It can also be used to strike high-value targets like aircraft and ships. The mq 9 reaper has a very large payload bay, allowing for a variety of different weaponry and electronics to be loaded onto it including Paveway laser-guided bombs, JDAM satellite-guided bombs, and Quickstrike naval mines.
You can also equip it with electronic countermeasures or anti-ship missiles. It's a mobile, versatile aircraft that can be moved anywhere on an aircraft carrier.
During a recent test, the aircraft was flown around the deck of the Bush-class aircraft carrier in a loop. It was also driven around deck in taxi mode as well as through numerous landing and takeoff maneuvers.
Boeing is currently building the MQ-25 Stingray under a development contract. It is an unmanned, carrier-based aerial tanker that can also be controlled mid-flight by either an F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot or E-2D Advanced Hawkeye pilot. This allows it to perform its core tanking mission. It is expected that the drone can be operated on a carrier deck and in air operations without any additional guidance. However, it will have to follow a new set rules called NATOPS.
MQ 25 Stingray drone
The US Navy is developing the mq-25 stingray for its Carrier-Based Aerial Refueling System. It was designed for warrant officers to operate and will eventually replace current Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters that currently refuel from their carriers.
It is currently being tested at the Boeing facility in St Louis Missouri, US in preparation for its maiden flights in 2021. The MQ-25 will be able to refuel aircraft using the standard probe-and-drogue method, similar to that used by the Navy's existing aircraft.
The mq-25 is being developed by Boeing under an $805 million development contract and will be a critical component of the carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling program, which will be worth billions to the US Navy in the near future. This is the first stage of a journey that will eventually result in more 70 drones being part of the Navy's fleet.