An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the first time in history conducted air refueling of an aircraft, writes The Drive. The corresponding video on YouTube was published by Boeing.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – June 09, 2021 – Technology
Refueling with the prototype MQ-25 Stingray drone of the F / A-18F Super Hornet of the US Navy took place on June 4 in the skies over the state of Illinois. The UAV was in the air for about 4.5 hours. In total, the plane received about 150 kilograms of fuel from the drone.
This was the 26th flight of this UAV.
The Drive notes that the first MQ-25 Stingray should receive the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George Bush. In addition to refueling, such UAVs are planned to be used in reconnaissance. In total, the US Navy plans to receive 72 units of the MQ-25 Stingray. Deliveries of the first drones should begin before 2025.
The publication recalls that previously only air refueling of UAVs from a manned aircraft was carried out, for example, six years ago, the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) drone received fuel from the tanker 707.
The first flight of the MQ-25 Stingray, designed for air refueling of carrier-based fighters, for example, the F-35C Lightning II, took place in September 2019.
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Source: Ukrgate
