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Saab Australia, SRC Aus join MQ-28A Ghost Bat supply chain

Adelaide-based Saab Australia and Brisbane-based SRC Aus Pty Limited have joined the Boeing Defence Australia/RAAF MQ-28A Ghost Bat program.

Saab Australia will be providing its TactiCall Communications Solution which includes user terminals, radio infrastructure and avionics equipment. The Solution integrates all communications technologies into one intuitive user interface to enable information to be securely monitored and shared across multiple classification levels., according to Saab Australia

“The Ghost Bat is an exciting program for the Australian defence sector and demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration between global defence organisations, local businesses, and the Defence Force,” said Andy Keough CSC, Saab Australia’s Managing Director.

Meanwhile, SRC Aus will provide a novel Radio Frequency (RF) mission payload for the Ghost Bat, though no details have been provided. Boeing is working at speed, it says, to validate the mission system, payloads and operational requirements for this advanced capability.

The number of Australian companies specifically engaged on the development of the platform has risen from 55 to 74 over the past year and more than 200 Australian companies have contributed to the MQ-28A program since it was first launched in 2017, says SRC Aus.

“Expenditure through Australian industry represents more than 70% of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat program,” says Glen Ferguson, Boeing’s MQ-28A program director. Services include “Advanced manufacturing, composite fabrication, precision machining, mission systems, electrical systems, flight control and navigation, airframe control and landing gear,” he said

The MQ-28A has reportedly also completed successful teaming flights with multiple aircraft demonstrating mission scenarios and airborne information sharing. A capability demonstration of the MQ-28A in its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) role, carrying out either an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) or attack mission – or both – with a crewed RAAF fighter is scheduled for 2025.

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