Lockheed Martin unveils MQ-25 A Stingray
Lockheed Martin unveils MQ-25 A Stingray. Have a look at these amazing video
This video of MQ-25A Stingray that is an unmanned Carrier-Based Aerial Refuelling System (CBARS) and shall be step-by-step developed into Unmanned Combat Aerial System ( UCAV) was unveiled by Lockheed Martin this 9th April.
It is now called Unmanned Carrier Aviation Air System ( UCAAS). The Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) was a United States Navy program to develop an autonomous carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle. The vehicle was supposed to possess both intelligence and strike capabilities. Later Pentagon changed the program entirely to Carrier – Based Aerial Refuelling System.
Request for proposal was issued in 2012 and 4 manufacturers assigned to design their vehicles. General Atomics and Boeing were to focus on endurance and payload in their vehicles
whereas Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin were asked to develop tail-less high survivability stealthy designs.
UCLASS was planned to have fifth-generation AESA radar, multi-intelligence sensors including electro-optical/infrared sensors, full motion video cameras to detect and track land and sea targets while armed with Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMS).
Then its weapons bay could be filled with AIM-120 AMRAAMS and be remotely operated by E-2D Hawk eye.
UCLASS vehicles would be partners in crime with F-18 E/F Super Hornets and F-35 C Lightning II.
Due to surmounting costs, the improbability of too early expectations, and apprehensions that fully unmanned capabilities would be compromised
The development of the vehicle was sought to be approached incrementally.
So in this extremely watchable video you are seeing MQ-25A Stingray air-refuelling unmanned tanker that has been so far developed by Lockheed Martin.
Indeed, it takes something to sustain Super Power Status.
