Skunk Works head said USN should select flying wing design for MQ-25

The executive vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Advanced Development Programs (ADP) a.k.a Skunk Works said the U.S. Navy should pick a flying wing design from the start for the MQ-25 program.

US Navy's X-47B, AV-2, Bureau # 168064, of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23), conduct Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) over the Chesapeake Bay on 16 April 2015.  VX-23 is part of the Naval Test Wing Atlantic in Naval Air Station Patuxent River,
Photo: U.S. Navy

Speaking at the company’s 2016 Media Day, Rob Weiss told reporters that such a decision will ease the transition of the UAV from a tanker to a strike and reconnaissance platform.

“If you start with a vehicle shape that will allow it to penetrate into a contested environment, you can get a low-cost tanking capability upfront without putting all the capability into that vehicle… you can do it at low cost but stay on that same path to use that vehicle design to operate in a penetrating environment,” Weiss said.

Weiss is also confident that a flying wing Stingray could be built on a budget.