US Navy's Unmanned Stingray Tanker Raises Its Own Landing Gear For First Time

Mascoutah, Illinois – The U.S. Navy's MQ-25A Stingray unmanned refueling aircraft retracted its landing gear automatically for the first time during a test flight over Illinois.

Footage released by the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office shows the carrier-based drone tanker in flight over MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah on October 6. According to the Navy, the Stingray climbed above 20,000 feet and flew faster than 200 knots during the four-hour flight.