US Navy’s Unmanned Stingray Tanker Raises Its Own Landing Gear For First Time

The U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned refueling aircraft retracted its landing gear automatically for the first time during a test flight over Illinois.

Footage released by the Navy’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office shows the carrier-based drone tanker in flight over MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah on October 6. According to the Navy, the Stingray climbed above 20,000 feet and flew faster than 200 knots during the four-hour flight.

Until now, pilots had to command the landing gear retraction manually from the ground. The Navy said the test program is widening the aircraft’s flight envelope and reliability as it works toward fielding an unmanned tanker that extends the reach and flexibility of the carrier air wing.