USS Theodore Roosevelt becomes first carrier with built-in Unmanned Air Warfare Center

Published Aug 10, 07:39 PM UTC

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The USS Theodore Roosevelt has become the first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier equipped with a built-in Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) to support the Boeing MQ-25A Stingray, the Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. The MQ-25A, intended to relieve F/A-18 Super Hornets of aerial refueling duties, reached milestone C in May 2026, authorizing production and deployment. The UAWC aboard the Roosevelt became fully operational in March 2026, with the USS Ronald Reagan's center slated to be operational by the end of August 2026. The USS George H.W. Bush was the first carrier to test the UAWC in August 2024. The MQ-25 program, initiated with an $805 million contract in 2018, is estimated to cost about $13 billion for 72 aircraft. The Stingray completed a successful test flight in April 2026.

Source

Defense NewsWestern

Original language: EN

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Boeing U.S. Navy