The US Navy has awarded Boeing Defence an $805.3 million contract to develop four MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned refuelling aircraft.

Boeing will design, develop, produce, test, deliver and support the MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles, including integrate into the carrier air wing for an initial operational capability by 2024.

Besides Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems were competing. Boeing manufactured a full-scale and functional aircraft, which demonstrated carrier deck taxiing but has not yet make its initial flight test. Both of those companies chose to not build a prototype before the award was announced.

A carrier-based UAV tanker would allow the USN to extend the range of its manned aircraft, including the F-35 Lightning II, F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler. Boeing plans to perform the MQ-25 work in St. Louis, where it manufactures the F/A-18, EA-18G, and F-15.