The MQ-25 Stingray is the US Navy’s first carrier-based unmanned aircraft, built by Boeing for aerial refuelling. It frees F/A-18s and F-35s for combat by extending range with 15,000 pounds of fuel. Powered by Rolls-Royce engine, it launches/recovers autonomously; carrier tests start in 2026, signalling a shift to efficient, unmanned support in naval aviation.