Next-Generation Carrier-Launched Unmanned Aircraft Are Being Pursued by the U.S. Navy — Here's Their Potential Role

Summary

The U.S. Navy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking a family of carrier-based autonomous drones capable of operating from Ford-class and Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carriers, with industry responses due by August 13. The proposed drone systems, designated as part of the "Air Wing of the Future Family of Systems," must be capable of executing eight distinct mission types, including anti-surface strikes, anti-submarine warfare, air-to-air combat, electronic warfare, ISR, aerial refueling, and resupply operations, with a minimum strike range of 1,000 nautical miles. Beyond carrier operations, the Navy is also seeking vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones capable of deploying from other vessel types such as destroyers and mobile sea bases, reflecting a broader fleet-wide unmanned aviation strategy. The initiative reflects the Navy's intention to transition from fourth-generation carrier air wings toward a future force blending fifth- and sixth-generation manned and unmanned platforms, emphasizing affordable, expendable drones suited for large-scale attrition warfare. This effort falls under the Trump administration's Golden Fleet naval expansion plan and builds upon existing drone programs such as the MQ-25A Stingray tanker and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).