Ghost Bat achieves first flights in US airspace

The MQ-28A Ghost Bat has completed three operational flight tests on the Point Mugu Sea Range at US Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California, to validate autonomous operations and demonstrate rapid deployment and sustained operations from an allied location.

The deployment is the Australian-developed Ghost Bat’s first international operation in allied airspace and signals growing global interest in uncrewed autonomous combat capability.

The autonomous flights over the Pacific Ocean help Boeing demonstrate the aircraft’s maturity and export potential, the company said in a media release. They show the MQ-28’s ability to operate seamlessly from allied facilities, which helps Boeing demonstrate the aircraft’s maturity and potential export opportunities to international customers outside Australia.

“The activity at Point Mugu is part of Boeing’s ongoing flight test program to mature the MQ-28 and demonstrate operations from allied locations,” Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 global program director said. “MQ-28 is using this location to further prove the maturity of the program and inform future exportability.”

The tests at Point Mugu validated autonomous systems while following required airspace, range safety and regulatory approvals. The MQ-28A flew three times over the Pacific Ocean. To mitigate risk, the flight test team followed range safety procedures, used certified range assets and coordinated with authorities.