U.S. Navy awards Boeing with $808M contract for four MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles

After a months-long competition, Boeing has won a $805.3 million contract from the U.S. Navy to build the first four MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles.

In a statement released on 30 August, Boeing has announced that company is awarded a $805,318,853 fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract to provide the design, development, fabrication, test, verification, certification, delivery, and support of four MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles, including integration into the carrier air wing to provide an initial operational capability to the U.S. Navy.

The statement added that the work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Quebec, Canada; Palm Bay, Florida; San Diego, California; and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S., and is expected to be completed in August 2024.

- ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW -

“As a company, we made an investment in both our team and in an unmanned aircraft system that meets the U.S. Navy’s refueling requirements,” said Leanne Caret, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “The fact that we’re already preparing for first flight is thanks to an outstanding team who understands the Navy and their need to have this important asset on carrier decks around the world.”

Boeing was in competition for the contract with two teams that were led by Lockheed Martin and General Atomics. Northrop Grumman was invited to submit a bid, but dropped out of the competition last October.

MQ-25 is designed to provide the U.S. Navy with a much-needed refueling capability. According to the U.S. Navy, the MQ-25 Stingray will allow for better use of combat strike fighters by extending the range of deployed Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler, and Lockheed Martin F-35C aircraft. MQ-25 will also seamlessly integrate with a carrier’s catapult and launch and recovery systems.

Over the years to come, the U.S. Navy is expected to buy as many as 72 of the carrier-based unmanned aircraft with an estimated total price tag of as much as $13 billion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaFmC3_HPIo

If you would like to show your support for what we are doing, here's where to do it.

If you wish to report grammatical or factual errors within our news articles, you can let us know by using the online feedback form.

Executive Editor

About author:

Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov
Dylan Malyasov is the editor-in-chief of Defence Blog. He is a journalist, an accredited defense advisor, and a consultant. His background as a defense advisor and consultant adds a unique perspective to his journalistic endeavors, ensuring that his reporting is well-informed and authoritative. read more

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

TRENDING NOW

China unveils sixth-generation fighter vision

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has unveiled a mock-up of its conceptual sixth-generation fighter jet during the Airshow China 2024, providing a...