Navy awards Boeing first MQ-25 production contract

The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract on September 14 for Lot 1 low-rate initial production of the MQ-25A Stingray, the first production order for the carrier-based unmanned tanker. The award funds three Lot 1 aircraft plus long-lead parts for three Lot 2 jets, with Lot 1 deliveries expected to start in 2029. The program of record is 67 operational aircraft and nine test aircraft; Pentagon reporting still points to initial operational capability in 2029, four years later than first planned.