Boeing, RAAF prove Ghost Bat operational effectiveness

Brisbane-based Boeing Defence Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully completed demonstrations proving the operational viability of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The tests were completed four and a half months ahead of schedule, leaving only one last test to be completed – a live air-air missile shot, which will be done some time later this year or early next year.

“The next milestone for this incredibly innovative aircraft is the test firing of a missile,” said Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, “because our intention is that this aircraft will be a Collaborative Combat Aircraft able to detect, track and destroy enemy combatants.” The RAAF and Department of Defence have said consistently until now that the MQ-28A will be used as an unarmed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, so Conroy’s statement marks a shift in policy regarding the aircraft.

The RAAF-defined demonstrations completed to date required the MQ-28 to execute a series of operationally relevant missions designed to supplement and enhance capabilities of existing crewed platforms.

Describing the MQ-28A Ghost bat as the world-leading Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) design, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, the Chief of Air Force, said Ghost Bat is “designed to work with our crewed platforms, our E-7 Wedgetails, our P-8 Poseidons and particularly with our F-35, our Super Hornet and our Growler combat aircraft to provide high-quality air power delivered with a high degree of lethality and a high degree of survivability for our crewed platforms.”

The uncrewed MQ-28 platforms and digital versions have now completed 150 hours of flight testing in 130 sorties and more than 20,000 hours of virtual testing. The Capability Demonstration 2025 missions were completed in early June, four months ahead of schedule, says Boeing, and validated:

• autonomous behaviours and mission execution
• multi-ship operations to provide combat mass
• deployment operations to RAAF Base Tindal
• teaming with an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft
• data fusion and sharing data between multiple MQ-28 aircraft and transmission of that data to a crewed platform

 MQ-28 is a unique autonomous capability designed to complement the find, fix, track and target elements of air combat with autonomous behaviours and reduced risk to crewed platforms, the company adds.

“The RAAF set the task of proving the first four steps in the Air Combat chain for the MQ-28 – and we have accomplished that sooner than anticipated,” said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global program director. “Completing this work early allows us to accelerate the next phases of development – engage and assess – with an air-to-air weapon shot planned for later this year or in early 2026.”

“I announced at the start of last year a $400 million investment in the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, bringing the total Commonwealth investment [in the platform] to $1 billion,” said Conroy. “This is about supporting crewed platforms. This is about magnifying the fire power of the Royal Australian Air Force. This is about making Australia safer by giving the Australian Defence Force the best capabilities in the world to keep our troops safe, as well as deterring potential conflict,” he added.

The capabilities validated throughout 2025 will be incorporated into the Block 2 aircraft now in production, forming the basis of an initial operational capability for the RAAF and allied partners.

“We have been engaging with the United States Air Force [and] the United States Navy through the development of this aircraft,” said Amy List, Managing Director of Boeing Defence Australia. “We have partnerships with those forces to develop what a CCA capability is, and we’re actively looking for ways to enter the US market and present this aircraft for future implements to the US.”

Its International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) status (imposed by the US State Department) remains unclear. But Conroy said: “I also want to acknowledge that 200 Australian companies have been part of the supply chain. We’re leading the world in this capability. We’re years ahead of other countries in developing this.”