US Navy completes drone operations center on USS Theodore Roosevelt

The US Navy has completed the installation of dedicated infrastructure to operate unmanned aircraft from aircraft carriers. The USS Theodore Roosevelt has become the first carrier with a fully operational Unmanned Air Warfare Center, making it the first ship capable of deploying the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refueling aircraft.

The Unmanned Air Warfare Center integrates specialized equipment, including the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control System and the MD-5E Ground Control Station, to provide command and control for the Boeing-manufactured MQ-25A. This dedicated infrastructure is designed to manage the specialized requirements of unmanned aviation rather than treating drones as temporary additions to conventional systems.

The MQ-25A Stingray is intended to provide aerial refueling, which will reduce the workload on F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters and allow them to be redirected toward attack missions. Following the successful integration on the Theodore Roosevelt, the USS Ronald Reagan is expected to have its operational center ready for deployment by August 2026.