Boeing, on December 19, unveiled a new autonomous plane which is capable of refueling US Navy fighter jets when they are in midair. It was in October that the US Navy requested proposals seeking unmanned refueling airplanes for their military arsenal. As Boeing has now unveiled their new unmanned refueling aircraft, they have taken their first step to emerge as a winner in the MQ-25 competition.
US extends dominance in the skies
"Through its MQ-25 competition, the Navy is seeking unmanned refueling capabilities that would extend the combat range of deployed Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler, and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters. The MQ-25 will also have to seamlessly integrate with a carrier's catapult and launch and recovery systems," wrote Boeing in its website.
If the US Navy accepts this proposal, then it will be another feather in the crown for Boeing, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world.
The United States military power on the skies will be also increased when this unmanned plane gets included in their arsenal, as it allows the already flying jets to extend their range.
Boeing: The Industry leader in aerospace
"Boeing has been delivering carrier aircraft to the Navy for almost 90 years. Our expertise gives us confidence in our approach. We will be ready for flight testing when the engineering and manufacturing development contract is awarded," said Don 'BD' Gaddis, a retired admiral who leads the Boeing's refueling program in a recently issued statement.
Greg Hyslop, the Boeing Chief Technology Officer said that the aerospace industry is going to change drastically, and Boeing will be the flag holder of this change.
According to experts, the usage of these unmanned planes to refuel fighter jets will extend their flying range by 300 - 400 miles. As per reports, these unmanned flying objects carrying the MQ-25 Stringray aerial tanker will be capable of delivering 15,000 pounds of aero-fuel 500 nautical miles out from an aircraft carrier.
