The Marine Corps has accepted its 359th and final MV‑22B. The milestone closes the acquisition phase but opens a more difficult chapter: sustaining, modernising and safely operating the Osprey through 2055 while its eventual successor remains undefined.

The MQ-25A Stingray’s first flight marks more than a technical milestone for Boeing and the US Navy. It signals the practical arrival of unmanned carrier-based aviation as a force-multiplying capability — extending carrier air wing range, reducing the tanker burden on Super Hornets, and preparing the flight deck for a future of manned-unmanned operations at sea.