U.S. Navy doubles drone command capacity with second MD-5C ground control station

Overview

Updated Oct 1

The U.S. Navy stood up its second operational MD-5C ground control station in five months, doubling how many MQ-25A Stingray tanker drones it can fly at once. The station runs on MDCX, the command-and-control software platform built by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division.

Each station is a crew of Air Vehicle Pilots who fly the uncrewed tanker from a carrier deck or a shore facility. The Navy has ordered 76 Stingrays and plans control centers on every carrier. The second station moves that build-out from planning to practice.

Why it matters

Two ground control stations let the Navy fly twice as many MQ-25 tankers, extending carrier strike range without putting crews at risk.

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Key Indicators

Operational MD-5C ground control stations

The Navy doubled its fleet capacity to operate MQ-25A drones in five months.

MQ-25A Stingray aircraft planned

The tanker drones will replace crewed F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in the refueling role.

Feb 2029

Initial operational capability target

The Navy moved its IOC date from 2024 to February 2029 as integration work continues.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Rear Adm. Tony Rossi

Oversees the Navy's Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons

Leading MQ-25 integration into carrier operations

Capt. Daniel Fucito

Head of the Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office (PMA-268)

Managing UMCS rollout across the carrier fleet

Joe Nedeau

UMCS lead within NAVAIR's PMA-268 office

Coordinating technical integration of MD-5 stations with ships and shore facilities

Ben Tongue

MDCX program manager at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Overseeing MDCX rollout from flight test to operational carrier installations

Organizations Involved

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Advanced development division

Developer of the MDCX command-and-control platform

The Lockheed Martin division known for the SR-71 Blackbird and F-117 Nighthawk now builds MDCX, the software running the Navy's drone ground control stations.

Boeing Defense

Defense contractor

Prime contractor for the MQ-25A Stingray

Builds the MQ-25A Stingray, the unmanned tanker the Navy will use to refuel carrier jets in flight, replacing Super Hornets in the tanker role.

U.S. Navy PMA-268

Program office

Manages UMCS and MQ-25 integration

The Navy's Unmanned Carrier Aviation program office manages the ground control system and its rollout across the carrier fleet.

Timeline

2020 September 2026

8 events Latest: September 30th, 2026 · 1 month ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Navy stands up second MD-5C station
Latest Capacity expansion

Lockheed Martin announces a second operational MD-5C ground control station. The station went aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in August 2026, five months after the first went on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in March. This doubled fleet capacity to operate the MQ-25A.
September 30th, 2026
July 2026
MQ-25A Stingray completes second flight test
Flight test

The Stingray's second test flight validated the UMCS MD-5 Ground Control Station and autonomous systems. Air Vehicle Pilots managed the flight from the ground station; Lockheed Martin's MDCX software performed as expected.
July 10th, 2026
April 2026
MDCX controls MQ-25A first flight
Flight test

The MQ-25A Stingray flies for the first time, controlled by the MDCX platform from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
April 22nd, 2026
March 2026
USS Theodore Roosevelt becomes first deployable MQ-25 carrier
Certification

The Pentagon's Modernized Selected Acquisition Report calls CVN-71 the first fully operational, deployable MQ-25 capable carrier.
March 2026
October 2025
MQ-25A connects with ground control system
Integration milestone

The MQ-25A and UMCS link for the first time during air vehicle and ground control station integration checkout testing.
October 2025
November 2024
First live control of a UAV via UMCS
Test milestone

The UMCS controls a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger in a live-fly demonstration.
November 7th, 2024
August 2024
First test drone control center installed on carrier
Installation

An Unmanned Air Warfare Center is installed and tested aboard USS George H.W. Bush.
August 2024
2020
Navy selects MDCX for MQ-25A ground control
Program decision

Lockheed Martin's MDCX is chosen as the ground control component for Boeing's MQ-25A Stingray.
2020

Scenarios

MQ-25 hits initial operational capability by February 2029

Likely Resolves by Q1 2029

Discussed by: Pentagon Modernized Selected Acquisition Report (April 2026)

The MSAR sets IOC for February 2029. To hit it, the Navy must demonstrate carrier launch and recovery of the MQ-25 and integrate stations aboard the Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. The second MD-5C gives the service margin to run more test sorties in parallel.

Carrier integration issues push MQ-25 IOC past 2029

Possible Resolves by Q1 2029

Discussed by: Program history of schedule slips (IOC moved from 2024 to July 2027 to February 2029)

Remaining gaps include at-sea networking, deck-handling procedures for the drone, and live launch-and-recovery testing in a busy carrier flight deck environment. The MSAR notes these steps still need work. A failure in carrier testing would push the date again.

MDCX expands to command Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Uncertain Resolves by Q2 2028

Discussed by: Capt. Daniel Fucito (PMA-268) and Breaking Defense reporting on the Navy's CCA program

Fucito says the control system will initially support the MQ-25 but also future unmanned systems such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The Navy has tapped four aerospace primes to design autonomous wingmen. If MDCX becomes the common control backbone, one station could fly tankers and combat drones.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2013

X-47B carrier demonstrations (2013)

Northrop Grumman's X-47B became the first unmanned aircraft to launch from and recover aboard an aircraft carrier, flying from USS George H.W. Bush. The demonstrator proved that autonomous carrier operations were technically possible.

Then

The flights validated launch, recovery, and autonomous flight control for uncrewed aircraft at sea.

Now

The success shaped the UCLASS program, which eventually evolved into the MQ-25A Stingray.

Why this matters now

The X-47B proved drones could work on carriers. The MD-5C is the control infrastructure that makes such operations routine rather than experimental.

2012-2016

UCLASS evolves into the MQ-25 (2012-2016)

The Navy's Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program began as a stealthy strike drone. Budget pressure and shifting priorities converted it into the MQ-25 Stingray, a dedicated refueling tanker rather than a strike aircraft.

Then

The mission shifted from bombing to refueling, producing a simpler, cheaper drone.

Now

The Navy ordered 76 Stingrays and made the tanker the first uncrewed aircraft integrated into standard carrier air wing operations.

Why this matters now

The mission pivot explains why the Navy needs ground control stations at all: the Stingray is a workhorse logistics aircraft, not a one-off technology demonstrator.