Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, Naval Air Forces, was recently at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and he said defense contractors competing in the MQ-25A program will have to find the sweet spot between supporting mission tanking and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Photo: U.S. Navy
While an aircraft designed for ISR work requires high endurance and large wingspan, a mission tanker would need to carry large amount of fuel, these two criteria called for different approaches.
Shoemaker also hinted that the MQ-25A need not be a stealthy aircraft.