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Fuller story here: https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Ne...mq-25-program/ A public domain video can be viewed here: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/82666...hw-bush-cvn-77 Coutresy of Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Brann, Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Edgar, Seaman Ryan Hartman, Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Shelander and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Vazquez, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Gives some idea of it size relative to a F/A-18. With a wingspan over 1 2/3s that of a bug the USN badgers and associated chockheads will need to be extra careful. |
As if USN deck crew are not careful:
TWITTER BOING! video at this URL otherwise twitter direct link to video does not appear to work? |
MQ-25 Completes First U.S. Navy Carrier Tests [same as twatta video above]
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It should be noted that humans are controlling MQ-25, aviators too (not the sort the RAF have just incorrectly labelled either). The USN have started training Warrant Officer Air Vehicle Operators (AVOs) who are akin to Weapon Systems Operators (WSOps) in the RAF. They will go through the Officer Candidate School (like OASC for the RAF) and thence onto basic flight training before going to the MQ-25 for advanced training. Like their Naval Aviator and Naval Flight Officer colleagues they will wear wings of gold.
Known as the 737X career pathway, the USN plan to hire and train around 450 personnel. They will control the MQ-25 from the ship and shore. This is likely where we are all heading as the Pilot, WSO and WSOp type roles are starting to draw closer together as we head towards Protector, Mosquito and Tempest in the RAF. The RN have their own plans for Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) too. The British Army is still fanning around with Watchkeeper and their helo force - but more autonomy with the future VTOL aircraft and the use of things like DARPA’s ALIAS is likely to see current and near future aircraft modified too. Pure Pilot skills will no longer be required as R2D2 can do it far better than Luke Skywalker, but then the young Jedi can command and operate the aircraft’s sensors, weapons and comms far better for now. I foresee that we will have fewer and fewer Pilots and more and more ‘operators’ akin to today’s WSOs and WSOps. Even the Tempest gang are questioning the need for today’s kind of Pilot. Obviously, the best name for this sort of combined Pilot, WSO and WSOp would have been ‘Aviator’ but sadly someone thought to use it instead :ugh: Also, the RN, Army and RAF aren’t the only forces starting to go through this transformation as the USN are already proving. :ok: |
New factory to build the MQ-25 at the rate of 15 per year
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Boeing Unveils Armed MQ-25 Variant Model
Boeing displayed a model of an armed variant of the MQ-25 Stingray carrier-based tanker featuring two Lockheed Martin AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Surface Missiles (LRASM) on April 8 at the Sea Air Space exposition. The model’s public debut comes as the U.S. Navy starts considering new roles for carrier... https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b66bb22509.jpg |
Now there's a surprise!
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Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09
(Post 11304968)
New factory to build the MQ-25 at the rate of 15 per year
(5) Boeing Defense on Twitter: "Our new #MQ25 Stingray factory is taking shape! Hear Dave, our production operations director, describe the facility and how a recent @USNavy contract allows us to start buying components for the unmanned aircraft that will be built here. https://t.co/6OUtbPpSDQ" / Twitter |
Originally Posted by DogTailRed2
(Post 11633043)
15 a year seems such a small number.
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Originally Posted by rattman
(Post 11633098)
USN is only buying about 50
https://www.flightglobal.com/militar...157393.article "...The latest fiscal year 2025 budget documents indicate the navy plans to acquire 76 Stingrays, including five test articles. At least 67 aircraft are projected to be operational models...." |
Yeah found a more complete thing
805million for 4 test planes. So that 201 million a plane The full contract is 13 billion for 72 so 180 million 4 prototype then 72 including 5 test articals |
So about twice the price of an FA-18 - but it’s a very short production run to amortise the cost of R&D and setting up the line.
Order a lot more in various roles and the price will plummet. |
How about some Hawkeye variant? It could move stealthy into position, loiter and be switched on if needed. Some stealthy ASW sonobuoy dropper might work as well.
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Originally Posted by Less Hair
(Post 11633243)
How about some Hawkeye variant? It could move stealthy into position, loiter and be switched on if needed. Some stealthy ASW sonobuoy dropper might work as well.
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Just for interest because cost of 'data package' unknown:
New contract award to deliver 17 new Block III Super Hornet aircraft and critical technical data for the fleet 19 Mar 2024 https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/New...technical-data "The U.S. Navy awarded The Boeing Company a $1.3 billion contract March 19 for the purchase of 17 F/A-18 Super Hornets and delivery of a technical data package vital to the sustainment of the platform...." Including the data proportion an individual cost is US $76,470,588? |
Originally Posted by BombayDuck
(Post 11633330)
Something like this, but carrier-borne, then: General Atomics unveils XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station UAV
https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-pilo...9b-seaguardian
Originally Posted by SpazSinbad
(Post 11633554)
Just for interest because cost of 'data package' unknown:
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Originally Posted by rattman
(Post 11633585)
Its not uknown, it the data / specs and allegedly the IP rights for all the boeing parts that make up the aircraft so that when boeing chose to longer supply parts they are not in the same situation as the B-2 and have to reverse engineer parts needed to keep the aircraft flying
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Originally Posted by SpazSinbad
(Post 11633628)
COST. What is the cost to the USN for the BOING! 'data / specs IP rights'?
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Boeing Validates Software for Future Manned Unmanned Refueling Missions 01 May 2024
https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-re...ts?item=131425 "...In a simulator lab, a Boeing-led team virtually demonstrated an F/A-18 pilot commanding an unmanned MQ-25 to release a refueling drogue and refuel the Super Hornet, using existing communications links on both platforms.... The Boeing-created software will significantly reduce the time it takes for an F/A-18 to communicate with an MQ-25, giving pilots greater flexibility in refueling from longer distances...." “A Boeing F/A-18 systems pilot demonstrates the Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capability from his simulator cockpit. The Boeing-led team virtually demonstrated an F/A-18 pilot commanding an unmanned MQ-25 to release a refueling drogue and refuel the Super Hornet, using existing communications links on both platforms.” JPG: https://boeing.mediaroom.com/file.ph...tillmedres.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b7e6b1b5b2.jpg |
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