Boeing and US Navy conduct air-to-air refuelling with UAV
The US Navy and Boeing have made aviation history with the first air-to-air refuelling using an unmanned aircraft.
During a test flight on June 4, a Boeing MQ-25 T1 successfully extended the hose and drogue from its navy-issued aerial refuelling store (ARS) and transferred jet fuel to a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, demonstrating the MQ-25 Stingray's ability to carry out its primary aerial refuelling mission.
"This history-making event is a credit to our joint Boeing and navy team that is all-in on delivering MQ-25's critical aerial refuelling capability to the fleet as soon as possible," said Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
During the initial part of the flight, the F/A-18 test pilot flew in close formation behind MQ-25 to ensure performance and stability prior to refuelling – a manoeuvre that required as little as 20 feet of separation between the MQ-25 T1 air vehicle and the F/A-18 refuelling probe.
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