Page 20 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

READY ROOM // UNMANNED TANKERS

READY ROOM

THE STORY BEHIND THE US NAVY HEADLINES RICK
BURGESS

DRINKING eventual customers will be the F-35C

Lightning II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
strike ghters, EA-18G Growler electronic
attack aircraft, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
early warning aircraft (now being
FROM retro tted or built with suitable refueling
probes), and CMV-22B Osprey carrier
onboard delivery transport tilt-rotors.
Presumably, the customer list also could
include US Marine Corps F-35Bs and
AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft, plus MV-22B
A DRONE is provided by the F/A-18E/F using buddy
Osprey and CH-53 assault transports.
Currently, carrier-based aerial refueling

stores for probe-and-drogue tanking.
Deploying the MQ-25A will enable the air
wing to free up those Super Hornets for
combat missions.
The need for organic tankers
REVOLUTION WAS St Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, Tankers are vital for conventional ‘cat-and-
MARKED on September leading the way for the US Navy’s future trap’ carrier ight operations to extend
19, 2019, with the rst carrier-based aerial refueling platform. the combat radius of aircraft, but also to
ight of Boeing’s MQ-25 The Stingray will be the world’s rst Above: The fi rst provide a margin of safety for returning
Stingray unmanned aerial unmanned tanker aircraft. It is designed MQ-25 gets aircraft in case they are low on fuel, the
A vehicle demonstrator. The to operate from the navy’s aircraft carrier airborne for its ight deck is fouled — delaying recovery
company-owned craft, known as T1, eet to provide a recovery tanker for the maiden fl ight on of aircraft — or pilots are having to make
September 19.
made its aerial debut at MidAmerica aircraft of the carrier air wing (CVW). Its Boeing multiple passes before snagging an

20 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero

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