The US Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a $12.7-million contract to introduce additional electronic warfare-related capabilities to the MQ-25 Stingray drone. The investment focuses on improvements to the aircraft’s Radio Frequency Blanker Unit and Encrypted Mass Storage System. The upgraded Radio Frequency Blanker Unit will help prevent the MQ-25’s own transmissions from disrupting its onboard sensors. This capability is important for maintaining reliable sensor operation while the aircraft is transmitting signals during flight. The contract also provides for enhancements to the Encrypted Mass Storage System, which is responsible for safeguarding information collected and transferred by the unmanned aircraft. By securing this mission data, the system helps ensure that information generated during flight remains protected. The two upgrades will consequently address separate but related requirements: reducing interference between the aircraft’s transmissions and sensors, while strengthening protection for data collected and transmitted during MQ-25 operations.
