MQ-25 will fly off the deck: The US Navy will lift an unmanned tanker from an aircraft carrier for the first time in 2026

MQ-25: Not just a drone, but a revolution on deck

In 2026, the US Navy will take a step that has been dreamed of for decades: an unmanned MQ-25 Stingray tanker aircraft will take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier for the first time. This is not just a technical achievement, it is a paradigm shift. Now aerial refueling, previously entrusted to combat fighters, will pass into the hands of an autonomous vehicle. And it will change everything.

The MQ-25, created by Boeing, is designed specifically for the harsh conditions of deck operations. It will be able to carry up to 6.8 tons of fuel and refuel several aircraft in one flight.

Super Hornet is no longer a tanker

Currently, almost a third of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet sorties on an aircraft carrier are not combat missions, but refueling missions. The fighter itself, designed for combat, is forced to carry fuel so that other vehicles can reach the target. This is a huge loss of combat power.

With the advent of the MQ-25, these functions will be removed from the Super Hornet. Now it will be able to take off with combat weapons, and not with external tanks. Every fighter jet is a strike, not a fuel tanker.

How does this change the combat capabilities of an aircraft carrier

Imagine: an aircraft carrier wing can launch more fighters, they fly further, stay in the air longer and return to refuel more often. The MQ-25 will be waiting for them at a given point, like a flying gas station.

This means that the range of the aircraft carrier will grow without a single change in its design. And this is a strategic advantage, especially in areas with dense air defenses, where every kilometer counts.

The path to full autonomy in the air

The MQ-25 is not the end, but the beginning. This is the first drone to become part of the deck loop. It will show that autonomous systems can operate in the most difficult conditions — on a swinging deck, in cramped hangars, in rain and storms.

In the future, such drones may take over not only refueling, but also reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and even strike missions. The aircraft carrier will become a hub for autonomous systems, not just a base for manned aircraft.

Sources on the MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based tanker drone and its 2026 entry into service

1. UNIAN — the first serial MQ-25 is scheduled to fly in 2025, with carrier integration expected in 2026. It will be the world’s first operational carrier-based tanker UAV, able to refuel combat aircraft at long range.
2. Hi-Tech Mail.ru — factory tests of the latest MQ-25 Stingray are underway in the U.S.; the U.S. Navy plans to begin operating the drone from carriers in 2026 to extend the range and endurance of carrier aviation.
3. Central Asia News — the MQ-25 Stingray will boost U.S. naval aviation by providing aerial refueling, ISR (intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance), and data collection. Full operational capability is expected in the 2030s.
4. RuPosters — the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 76 MQ-25 drones; the first serial aircraft should be delivered in 2026. The program has seen some delays, but development is on track.
5. ArmIya.az — U.S. Naval Air Forces commander Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever stated that the MQ-25 will fly in 2025 and begin carrier operations the following year.

Rostec has released a smart compass for airplanes: new navigation without satellites

 

Rosel Holding, part of Rostec State Corporation, has introduced a new generation of equipment for satellite-free navigation. This equipment is designed for airplanes, helicopters and drones and will be a real salvation in cases when the usual GPS or GLONASS stop working.

The main advantage of the new product is that it works where satellite communications are unreliable or non—existent. These can be remote remote regions, dense forests, gorges, or, what is especially important in modern realities,  zones of active signal suppression (jamming). The device is capable of acting as a full-fledged autonomous backup system, providing accurate measurement of the speed and angle of demolition of the aircraft, even if all satellite systems have failed.

The developers have paid great attention to reliability and accuracy. The device has increased durability and resistance to vibrations and temperature fluctuations. And the accuracy of the readings has been significantly improved through the use of modern digital signal processing methods. According to Rostec, the new product significantly surpasses both existing Russian and foreign analogues in its key characteristics.

The equipment has already passed flight tests on various types of aircraft and has shown excellent results. Now it is ready for mass production and implementation. Its use is critically important not only in peaceful conditions (for flights in hard-to-reach areas), but also in the military, especially against the background of the growing threat of cyber attacks and large-scale electronic jamming, which can disarm equipment that is completely dependent on satellites.

Rostec, as Russia's largest machine-building holding, which unites more than 800 enterprises, emphasizes that such developments are part of a strategy to ensure technological independence and increase the combat readiness of military equipment.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces unveiled the Sky Sentinel autonomous machine-gun air defense turret

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have introduced a new development — an autonomous machine-gun air defense turret called Sky Sentinel. Equipped with a 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun, this system is designed for automated protection against aerial threats.

Sky Sentinel uses an infrared camera and an artificial intelligence-controlled computer to detect and target targets. The main feature of the turret is its autonomy: minimal human involvement is required — only to replenish ammunition and refuel the electric generator that powers the system.

The developers claim that Sky Sentinel is capable of effectively hitting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other aerial targets at low altitudes, making it a valuable asset for protecting critical facilities and positions. The estimated cost of the turret is about 150 thousand US dollars.

The introduction of Sky Sentinel can significantly increase the effectiveness of the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, especially in the context of the active use of drones in modern military conflicts. Automation and autonomy can reduce the burden on personnel and increase the speed of response to emerging threats.

Unprecedented field trials of mobile microfabric for drone production on the front line

Microfabric for drone production

On June 2, 2025, unique field tests of a mobile microfabric capable of producing drones directly on the front line began. This autonomous system was developed by the startup Per Se Systems from the French city of Perigueux and is an innovative solution for the operational provision of troops with unmanned aerial vehicles.

The microfabric is equipped with several 3D printers working simultaneously on a trailer, which makes it possible to produce FPV drones (first-person view) in just three hours. With this performance, the system can produce up to ten drones per hour, ensuring stable and localized supply without having to rely on traditional industrial logistics chains.

This innovation significantly increases the mobility and autonomy of units, allowing them to quickly replace equipment losses and adapt to changing combat conditions. The ability to produce drones right on the front line reduces the delivery time and reduces the risks associated with transportation.