Two U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Now Ready to Operate New MQ-25A Tanker Drones.

The U.S. Navy now has two aircraft carriers equipped with the command infrastructure needed to operate its future MQ-25A Stingray tanker drone, after USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) joined USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) with an integrated Unmanned Air Warfare Center. The installation expands preparations for unmanned aerial refueling, a capability intended to extend the reach of carrier aircraft and free Super Hornet fighters for combat missions.

Boeing’s MQ-25 T1 unmanned test aircraft receives deck-handling commands aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) during trials supporting the development of the MQ-25A Stingray aerial refueler. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)

The U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program Office announced on September 30, 2026, that it completed Ronald Reagan’s installation and integration in August. Both carriers now have the shipboard control infrastructure for the Stingray, but operational deployment still depends on aircraft testing, qualification, and integration into carrier operations.

The U.S. Unmanned Air Warfare Center serves as the carrier’s control hub for unmanned aviation and houses the MD-5C ground control station used to command the MQ-25A. The system combines U.S. Navy command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence networks with Lockheed Martin’s MDCX hardware and software, alongside other government equipment. Its operator consoles and mission systems support flight planning and execution while connecting the unmanned aircraft to the carrier’s wider aviation operations.

Ronald Reagan’s upgrade followed the first operational installation aboard Theodore Roosevelt in March 2026. According to the U.S. Navy, teams completed all 11 required ship modifications concurrently over 17 months. A second installation gives personnel another ship to develop procedures, train operators, and validate the interfaces needed to employ unmanned aircraft, while providing experience for subsequent carrier upgrades.

Ronald Reagan has already progressed into connectivity demonstrations. In an October 19, 2026, announcement, the U.S. Navy reported that the carrier, underway in the Pacific Ocean, connected to and controlled an MQ-25A test aircraft more than 2,100 miles away at Boeing’s facility in Mascoutah, Illinois. The demonstration used a proliferated low Earth orbit satellite network to establish a beyond-line-of-sight link through the ship’s MD-5C station. It demonstrated remote command connectivity, rather than a Stingray launch or recovery aboard the carrier.

The operational objective is to introduce a dedicated unmanned tanker into the carrier air wing. U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets currently refuel in the air using external fuel tanks and buddy-refueling equipment, with combat aircraft supporting other jets. Previous reporting estimates that tanker support accounted for about 20 to 30 percent of Super Hornet sorties during carrier operations, though the proportion varies with deployment requirements.

Transferring that workload to the MQ-25A would free up more Super Hornets for strike, air defense, and other missions while reducing the burden on their airframes. A dedicated unmanned refueler would also extend the range and endurance of supported aircraft. Its military value therefore combines additional in-flight fuel with greater flexibility in how commanders employ the existing carrier air wing.

The MQ-25A remains in development. A U.S. Navy developmental aircraft completed its first flight on April 25, 2026, conducting approximately two hours of testing to evaluate basic flight controls, engine performance, and handling. That milestone followed earlier work with Boeing’s T1 demonstrator, which first flew in 2019 and demonstrated aerial refueling in 2021. The April flight began a new stage of aircraft testing rather than marking entry into operational service.

The U.S. Navy plans to acquire 76 MQ-25A drone tankers: 67 operational and nine test and developmental aircraft. A $562 million first low-rate initial production contract, announced in September 2026, supports the transition to fleet introduction, while aircraft testing and carrier integration continue. Equipping Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt with control centers gives the U.S. Navy two carriers ready for that transition, bringing unmanned tanking closer to becoming a routine part of carrier aviation.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.