With the release of the latest budget document for fiscal year 2026, the U.S. Navy has indicated that it will once again delay the entry into service of its new MQ-25 Stingray refueling drone, which is now expected to be ready by 2027. This marks another delay in the program’s timeline, which originally called for the unmanned systems to reach Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2024—a date that was first pushed back to 2026 and now has been postponed again.
According to further details, the Navy’s budget documents state that the phase known as Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) has been delayed by another year, which has significantly impacted the timeline to achieve IOC. The delay has already been confirmed by Navy officials, although no specific reasons for the issues have been disclosed; Boeing, the manufacturer, also declined to comment, referring all questions back to the Navy.
Among the possible causes, reports from the U.S. suggest that Boeing has faced substantial cost overruns stemming from fixed-price contracts, in addition to various manufacturing flaws that have set the project back. The situation may be further complicated by the looming threat of a strike by Boeing workers involved in the program at the St. Louis facility, as unions have rejected the company’s latest contract proposals.
It is also important to note that, in order to achieve IOC for the MQ-25 Stingray refueling drone, the U.S. Navy needs at least three operational units capable of flying from aircraft carriers, along with trained personnel for operation and maintenance. As of now, the system is only undergoing ground testing ahead of its first flight of the year, according to Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg—raising concerns among U.S. defense analysts following the program.
Despite these setbacks, the U.S. Navy plans to invest approximately $161.5 million per unit to acquire the first three MQ-25 drones and ultimately aims to procure a total of 76 units to equip its fleet. It is worth highlighting that the refueling role for which the drones were designed is currently being performed by F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets fitted with external tanks—making the development of this unmanned capability a key priority for the Navy’s future strategies and a way to reduce operational strain on its carrier-based fighters.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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