Advanced, U.S. MQ-25 drone fuels F-35 stealth fighter jet in the air

[Great_American]

Advanced, U.S. MQ-25 drone fuels F-35 stealth fighter jet in the air

An unmanned MQ-25 T1 test asset refueled a third U.S. Navy carrier-based aircraft, demonstrating the maturity of the aircraft’s design and performance

The U.S. Navy and Boeing used the MQ-25 T1 test asset on Sept. 13 to refuel a U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II fighter jet for the first time, demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to achieve its primary aerial refueling mission.

This was the third refueling mission for the Boeing-owned test asset in just over three months, advancing the test program for the Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. T1 refueled an F/A-18 Super Hornet in June and an E-2D Hawkeye in August.

[MisterVeritis]

This helps the A2-AD problem against China.

[Peter1469]

Pretty cool. They can't get their new manned tanker to fly properly, it may not matter.

[Great_American]

I remember when in flight refueling was a new thing. Now drones do it. Absolutely amazing. Well, it helps with the pilot shortage.

[Peter1469]

A friend of mine retired from the Air Force. He was a navigator on the KC-130 but got replaced by a computer. I make fun of him about that.

I guess the pilots will be next.

[Great_American]

A friend of mine retired from the Air Force. He was a navigator on the KC-130 but got replaced by a computer. I make fun of him about that.

I guess the pilots will be next.

My dad was a navigator during Nam on C-141's.

His spot in the $#@!pit was done away with long ago.

Its amazing that he use to do the job that satellites do now.

[MisterVeritis]

A friend of mine retired from the Air Force. He was a navigator on the KC-130 but got replaced by a computer. I make fun of him about that.

I guess the pilots will be next.

I have laid flat in the boom compartment on a dozen occasions. While the experience was novel it was exciting. But, like any novel experience the excitement fades.