Officially Licensed US Navy VUQ-10 Pathfinders 2026 Squadron Patch - Unmanned Carrier-Launched Multi-Role Squadron Ten (VUQ-10), the Pathfinders, MQ-25 Stingray Fleet Replacement Squadron, officially licensed embroidered patch.
Pathfinders leading the way into carrier aviation's unmanned future, one trained air vehicle pilot at a time.
VUQ-10 was established on 1 October 2022 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, making it the Navy's first fleet replacement squadron dedicated entirely to the MQ-25 Stingray, the first carrier-based unmanned aircraft in U.S. naval history. The squadron's core mission is to man, train, and equip air vehicle pilots and maintainers to operate the Stingray in the fleet, building the proficiency, safety standards, and tactical judgment that carrier aviation demands before any crew reaches an operational detachment. Working alongside test units at Patuxent River, VUQ-10 has been central to developing the operational and maintenance procedures that will define how the MQ-25 integrates into carrier strike groups. The Stingray's primary role is aerial refueling, extending the combat reach of manned strike aircraft and shifting tanking duties from platforms like the F/A-18 to an unmanned system purpose-built for the carrier deck. With the first operational MQ-25 squadron, VUQ-11, established in April 2026, the Pathfinders patch now marks a genuine turning point in naval aviation history. The 2026 date on this officially licensed embroidered patch anchors it to that milestone year, giving the design immediate collector significance for anyone tracking the unmanned carrier aviation story from its earliest training days forward.
Perfect For: Navy aviation veterans, MQ-25 Stingray enthusiasts, VUQ-10 Pathfinders alumni, naval aviation historians, carrier strike group supporters, NAS Patuxent River personnel, unmanned systems collectors, shadow box displays, cruise book keepsakes, reunion gifts, and anyone building a patch collection around the leading edge of carrier air wing evolution and the sailors who are writing the first chapter of Navy unmanned aviation.
Pathfinders patch, stitched for the squadron that charted the course into carrier aviation's unmanned era.
