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| MQ-25 Stingray |
The MQ-25 Stingray, being developed by Boeing, is an innovative unmanned aerial vehicle designed for use as a tanker on aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. However, its extreme flight range and mission duration offer much broader possibilities.
The MQ-25 Stingray has impressive technical specifications. It can fly 500 miles from an aircraft carrier, dump 15,000 pounds of fuel, and return to the ship. This makes it ideal for supporting long-range maritime operations. It is important to note that the MQ-25 can perform tasks not only as a tanker, but also as a reconnaissance and combat drone.
The extreme flight range of the MQ-25 Stingray, excluding refueling tasks, is unprecedented for a carrier-based aircraft. This makes it possible to significantly expand the range of the aircraft carrier strike group, which can have far-reaching consequences for the US naval strategy. For example, the MQ-25 can provide support for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-35C Lightning II, increasing their range by 500 km.
The main requirement for the MQ-25's design—the ability to fly 500 miles from an aircraft carrier, dump 15,000 pounds of fuel and return to the ship—is still in force. However, the developers are also considering the possibility of using the MQ-25 in reconnaissance and combat operations. This includes performing intelligence gathering tasks, electronic attacks, and even hitting targets.
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