Boeing Wins Up to $80 Million Navy MQ-25A Stingray Development Contract

The Boeing Co. has received a Navy contract worth up to $80 million to continue development of the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aircraft system. The work covers system improvements, aircraft configuration development, integration, production readiness and sustainment intended to maintain and improve MQ-25A capabilities. Naval Air Systems Command awarded the contract, which was not competitively procured. Work will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to continue through October 2031.

MQ-25A Stingray Contract Details

Boeing will develop and integrate aircraft system configurations as the Navy continues work on the MQ-25A. The award also provides for system improvements, allowing the Navy to issue individual orders for work to maintain or improve the aircraft’s capabilities.

The contract covers production-readiness and sustainment work alongside that development effort. The Navy made no funding commitment at award; it will obligate funds as individual orders are issued. The award notice does not identify specific configuration changes or deliveries under the contract.

MQ-25A Stingray Program Background

The MQ-25A is being developed as a carrier-based unmanned aircraft primarily for aerial refueling. By taking on tanker missions now performed by F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, it is intended to free more crewed aircraft for other missions. The Navy’s MQ-25A fact file describes a 76-aircraft program of record that includes development and test aircraft.

The aircraft made its first flight in April 2026, and the Navy subsequently approved its entry into low-rate initial production. In September, the Navy announced a $562 million Boeing production award for three Lot 1 aircraft and long-lead components for three Lot 2 aircraft, with initial Lot 1 deliveries expected in 2029. The new systems-improvement contract provides development, integration and sustainment support as that production effort proceeds; it is not itself an aircraft production award.

Award and Contractor Background

Boeing has led development of the MQ-25A air vehicle since receiving a $805.3 million engineering and manufacturing development award in August 2018. That competitively selected contract covered the design, construction, testing, delivery and support of four development aircraft. A Navy justification for the subsequent production procurement identified Boeing as the aircraft’s sole designer, developer and manufacturer and cited delays that would result from bringing in another source.

The Navy’s September 2026 production action was a sole-source modification for Lot 1 production and Lot 2 advance acquisition. The newly awarded contract addresses continuing configuration, integration and sustainment work rather than those aircraft purchases.

This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov in approximately 90 days under N0001927D1006 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.