US Navy's Stingray Drone Aces Auto Landing Gear Retraction, Paving Way for Autonomous Carrier Future

The US Navy MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker just hit a major technical milestone, successfully completing its first automatic landing gear retraction during a test flight in Illinois. This seemingly small step is a giant leap for autonomous naval aviation, demonstrating the drone's growing capability to handle complex flight maneuvers without direct human input, a critical factor for future carrier operations. This achievement arrives as the MQ-25A program accelerates, fresh off an $80 million contract awarded to Boeing in October 2026 for ongoing system improvements and a $562 million Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract signed in September 2026. The Stingray is designed to transform the Carrier Air Wing by taking over aerial refueling duties, currently performed by F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. This frees up combat aircraft for their primary strike missions, extending the operational reach and lethality of US Navy carrier groups, especially vital in countering advanced Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) threats in regions like the Indo-Pacific. With Initial Operational Capability (IOC) now projected for 2029, the Navy and Boeing are pushing forward with further flight testing, carrier integration, and developing the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System. The USS Theodore Roosevelt became the first carrier equipped to handle MQ-25A operations in March 2026, setting the stage for a future where Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) redefines naval warfare and the role of autonomous systems on the high seas.