First Contract Awarded by Boeing

Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH is to provide the tailhook actuator for Boeing’s MQ-25 STINGRAY unmanned tanker, the company announced on 9 February – noting this is the first contract received from Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

A tailhook enables aircraft to rapidly decelerate for landings on short runways, such as aircraft carriers. The MQ-25 will be the US Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft and is designed to provide a robust refueling capability for the carrier air wing. The contract supports Boeing’s engineering and manufacturing development programme to provide MQ-25 aircraft to the USN. The Liebherr actuator will extend and retract the tailhook.

Liebherr builds 40 years’ experience in designing, manufacturing and servicing actuation systems for military aircraft. The company has developed unique high-performance, high-reliability technologies that are specifically suited to the severe environment in which the MQ-25A tailhook actuator will operate.