Report to Congress on the MQ-25 Stingray

The following is the Aug. 12, 2026, Congressional Research Service report, MQ-25 Stingray: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the Report

The U.S. Navy is developing a carrier-based uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to perform aerial refueling and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The MQ-25 Stingray, if the system is fielded as planned, would be the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) first uncrewed tanker and the Navy’s first carrier-based uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV, or drone). (DOD is “using a secondary Department of War designation,” under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025.) Congress has expressed an interest in the Navy’s efforts to develop a carrier-based drone and in the future structure of the carrier air wing.

According to the Navy’s FY2027 budget submission to Congress, by providing the carrier air wing with a dedicated aerial tanker, the MQ-25 would extend the effective operating range of crewed fighter aircraft and reduce the strain on fighter aircraft modified to provide mid-air refueling capabilities. In congressional testimony, Navy officials have further described the Stingray as a “pathfinder” to what they describe as the “air wing of the future”—one in which UAVs could potentially conduct various missions.

For FY2027, the Navy requested $1.75 billion in discretionary procurement and research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) funding for the MQ-25. If approved by Congress, the Navy’s FY2027 request would fund the procurement of three MQ-25 aircraft and represent the second year of low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the aircraft. The MQ-25 program of record currently estimates a total of 76 aircraft, including 67 operational aircraft and nine test and developmental aircraft.

Download the document here.