Navy Accelerates Unmanned Carrier Aircraft Plans With 1,150-Mile Range Drones

The U.S. Navy accelerates unmanned carrier aircraft plans with 1,150-mile-range drones to expand the Air Wing of the Future beyond traditional experiments. The service wants carrier-launched systems capable of flying a minimum 1,000 nautical miles (about 1,150 statute miles) without a pilot, supporting eight mission types including strike, anti-submarine warfare, air combat, electronic warfare, ISR, and aerial refueling and resupply. Officials say autonomy must enable independent carrier operations, in-flight mission changes, and threat avoidance while integrating with existing unmanned control systems. The effort follows a July 2026 request for information seeking industry ideas for a family of autonomous carrier aircraft, with openness to concepts that could also launch from destroyers. In competitive context, the Navy points to the MQ-25A Stingray tanker: it conducted its first operational test flight on April 27, 2026, carrying 15,000 pounds of fuel to 500 nautical miles. While a 2029 initial carrier deployment is cited in some budget documents, the service is integrating control systems and refining software for its Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System.