Boeing is turning the MQ-25 Stingray drone into an electronic warfare heavyweight

Date:
Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:05:00 +0000

Description:
Boeing set to spend $12.7 million to make modifications to its fuel supply-centric MQ-25A Stingray UAV to make it a viable player against EW-capable opponents

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Boeing receives $12.68 million investment to update the MQ-25's RF blanker, encrypted storage, and mission computer security, running through November 2029 The change is a recent one: the Navy's April 2026 acquisition report lists refueling as the MQ-25's primary mission and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) as secondary, with no electronic warfare requirement and only two key
performance parameters An RF blanker is electromagnetic compatibility
hardware that stops an aircraft's own transmitters from deafening its receivers, allowing it to conduct EW more effectively A single line buried in a recent US Department of War contract announcement is being read across multiple channels as the Navy's first carrier-based drone acquiring multiple electronic warfare upgrades.

The details, however, seem to focus on the defensive side of the spectrum and include a Radio Frequency Blanker Unit and an updated Encrypted Mass Storage System carrying an embedded Data Transfer System. The modification also provides an option for deficiency analysis and corrections, supporting security assessments of the aircraft's Mission Management System Computer. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Why do these upgrades matter? The most important upgrade for the MQ-25 Stingray, arguably, is its
RF Blanker. An RF blanker is electromagnetic compatibility equipment. When an aircraft carries several transmitters and sensitive receivers within a few meters of each other, a transmitter firing at full power can deafen or damage a nearby receiver operating in an overlapping band.

A blanker fixes that by taking a blanking request from each transmitter and issuing a suppression pulse to the affected receivers for the duration of the transmission, as GE Aerospace describes. For a drone that could also house sophisticated EW capabilities in the future, this is essentially a prerequisite. You may like The US Navy finally has a carrier with a built-in center for drones and other unmanned aircraft USAF wants to replace $30 million MQ-9 Reaper drones with cheaper UAVs after "dozens" were lost in
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The Navy's Modernized Selected Acquisition Report dated April 21, 2026,
offers a relatively narrow scope for the drone for now; however, it states that the MQ-25 conducts aerial refueling as its primary mission and provides Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capability as a secondary mission.

It is fairly possible that the upgrades are purely defensive, to prevent
rogue players from accessing the drone or knocking it offline with relative ease. In its current capacity, the MQ-25 serves as an unmanned aerial refueling drone for the US Navy, offering capabilities including the ability to carry roughly 14,000 to 16,000 pounds of fuel at a combat radius of 500 nautical miles. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
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This could change even as the US continues hardening its EW offerings and prepares for potential hostile actors to have the same capabilities it currently harbors. For now, the $12 million invested in what is a $19 billion program is essentially a rounding error at the end of the day.

This sudden investment may signal more to come: Boeing has already pitched a land-based MQ-25 variant with external pylons and marketing language about ISR, electronic warfare, and airborne early warning roles, though the
aircraft has no customer yet. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/boeing-is-turning-the-mq-25-stingray-drone-into- an-electronic-warfare-heavyweight


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