See the video: VAW VRC VUQ Tailhook 2026
14 September 2026
PORTFOLIO ACQUISITION EXECUTIVE AVIATION, Patuxent River, Md. (Sept. 14, 2026) - The U.S. Navy awarded a Fixed Price Incentive contract to The Boeing Company, for the MQ-25A Stingray Lot 1 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), valued at $562,000,000.
The contract provides the funds for three LRIP Lot 1 MQ-25As and additional funding for the advanced acquisition of long lead components to support three LRIP Lot 2 MQ-25As. Initial deliveries from Lot 1 are expected to begin in 2029.
“Awarding this first LRIP contract marks a pivotal transition from development to operational reality and is a testament to the focused effort of our joint government and industry teams,” said Capt. Daniel Fucito, Unmanned Carrier Aviation program manager (PMA-268). “MQ-25A will deliver the advanced reach, lethality, and survivability our warfighters need to outpace evolving threats and dominate the future battlespace.”
(Image source: Navy.mil)
Source: PAX River Naval Air Museum Blog
"by Bob Tourville
The idea of placing air surveillance radars in aircraft dates from the earliest days of World War II, when the limitations of ground-based radar technology became evident. Exploiting the advantages of altitude, and positioned many miles from the land they defended, the first aircraft equipped with powerful air surveillance radars arrived late in the war. However, the technologies and tactics needed to make true AEW aircraft would take several years to evolve. More"
. An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 125, lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in support of a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as a part of Valiant Shield 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 27, 2026.
The exercise targeted the former amphibious transport dock (LPD) ship USS Juneau – which saw action in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm before decommissioning in 2008 - more than 200 nautical miles off the coast of Guam, and brought together air, surface, and subsurface assets in coordinated strikes, allowing crews to sharpen critical skills in weapons employment and target engagement under realistic conditions that no simulator can fully replicate. Valiant Shield is a biennial, multilateral field training exercise conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces and partner nations in the Western Pacific focusing on joint, cross-combatant integration operating seamlessly across sea, air, land, and cyberspace. Exercises like Valiant Shield allow U.S. Pacific Command the opportunity to integrate forces from all branches of service and with our allies to conduct precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ana Souza Young)
Our next reunion will take place in beautiful Saint Augustine, Florida, from 27-30 April 2027 at the Doubletree by Hilton in the historic district. The itinerary will include a tour of the Northrop-Grumman E-2D plant, a leadership panel, a banquet, several social gatherings, and spouse activities. There will also be time to explore this historic city.
Reunions are a great place to reconnect with former shipmates, meet new friends, and learn about the great things our community is doing in the fleet today.
Detailed information about room reservations and event registration will be available here soon.
A U.S. Navy Sailor signals an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, attached to the "Screwtops" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123, prior to launch aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) May 10, 2026. Eisenhower is underway conducting flight deck certification in the Atlantic Ocean in preparation for future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Ali Stewart)
An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, attached to the "Screwtops" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123, approaches the flight deck aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) May 10, 2026. Eisenhower is underway conducting flight deck certification in the Atlantic Ocean in preparation for future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Ali Stewart)
U.S. Sailors conduct maintenance on an E-2D Hawkeye, attached to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 117, on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), May 24, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)
Today during the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, I announced the MQ-25A Stingray is moving into the production phase. Integrating unmanned refueling extends the lethality of our Carrier Strike Groups and equips our force with a decisive advantage to fight and win… pic.twitter.com/uBs7Gc5mdX— Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao (@SECNAV) May 19, 2026
Today during the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, I announced the MQ-25A Stingray is moving into the production phase. Integrating unmanned refueling extends the lethality of our Carrier Strike Groups and equips our force with a decisive advantage to fight and win… pic.twitter.com/uBs7Gc5mdX
An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 117, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), May 17, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jeremiah Caldwell, the oncoming commanding officer of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 125, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and Cmdr. Daniel Yates, the off-going commander of VAW-125, CVW 5 perform a fly over in E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, May 13, 2026. During the change of command ceremony, Cmdr. Daniel Yates relinquished his command to Cmdr. Jeremiah Caldwell, who took charge as the commanding officer of VAW-125. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Gage Collins)
