US Navy RFI seeks carrier-based combat drones with 1,000 nm unrefueled strike radius

A new NAVAIR request for information outlines a future carrier air wing “family of systems” including uncrewed aircraft able to deliver effects at least 1,000 nautical miles from the carrier without aerial refueling. The RFI also emphasizes autonomy for carrier operations (pattern, taxiing) and mission autonomy (dynamic retasking, threat evasion, automated refueling), signaling a push toward long-range, multi-mission carrier UAVs beyond the MQ-25 tanker role.