Boeing Contracts BAE System for IFF, Vehicle Management Systems of MQ-25 UAV

BAE Systems will supply Vehicle Management Control and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Systems for Boeing’s MQ-25 aerial refueling UAV.

The Vehicle Management Control System will control all flight surfaces and perform overall vehicle management duties for the MQ-25 unmanned aerial vehicle. The IFF product ensures operation in contested environments by reliably identifying both coalition and enemy vehicles.

The MQ-25 is the United States’ Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft and is designed to provide a much-needed refueling capability. The contract supports Boeing's engineering and manufacturing development program to provide four MQ-25 aircraft to the US Navy for Initial Operational Capability by 2024.

"The MQ-25 program will help the US Navy extend the range of the carrier air wing, and Boeing and our industry team is all-in on delivering this capability," said Dave Bujold, Boeing's MQ-25 program director. "The work we're doing is also foundational for the future of Boeing – where we're building autonomous systems from seabed to space."