In a first for U.S. naval aviation, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan connected to and controlled an MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refueler from more than 2,100 miles away.

During a preliminary sea trial, the Nimitz-class carrier's Unmanned Air Warfare Center used its MD-5C Ground Control Station to establish a beyond-line-of-sight link with an MQ-25A test aircraft over a proliferated low-Earth-orbit satellite network. The Stingray was located at Boeing's facility in Mascoutah, Illinois, while the ship was underway in the Pacific Ocean.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said the MQ-25A's carrier-based refueling capability enables F/A-18 Super Hornets to fly farther and longer. Capt. Daniel Fucito, program manager for the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program Office, said the connection proves the Carrier Air Wing of tomorrow is a reality today.

The MD-5C Ground Control Station integrates the Navy's command, control, communications, computers and intelligence network with Lockheed Martin's MDCX hardware and software to command the MQ-25A and future unmanned carrier aircraft.

Source: ASDNews