The initial production representative MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone for the U.S. Navy has completed its first low-speed taxi test.
The service has said it is now targeting a first flight for the unmanned aircraft early this year, after missing a self-imposed deadline to reach that milestone before the end of 2025.
The taxi test took place at Boeing’s facility at MidAmerica Airport, situated outside of St. Louis, Missouri, according to social media posts from the company and Naval Air Systems (NAVAIR). Navy personnel from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 24 (UX-24), the latter of which is focused specifically on supporting the development of unmanned aerial systems, participated in the event, per NAVAIR.
Taxing testing, with the drone moving under its own power, is a critical step toward a first flight. When exactly this milestone was achieved is not immediately clear.
Boeing had previously announced the start of ground testing of the production representative MQ-25 last summer. A flying MQ-25 demonstrator, also known as T1, has been used in flight and ground testing in support of the Stingray program for years now. However, it is a test article that is not fully reflective of the production-standard aircraft.
Sources: Boeing; The War Zone