Boeing and RAAF MQ-28 Ghost Bat Demonstrations Achieve Milestones
Boeing, in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), has completed initial demonstrations of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, marking significant progress in autonomous combat aircraft development and airpower strategies for the future.
Early Completion of Capability Demonstrations
Concluding earlier than planned in early June, the series of Capability Demonstration 2025 missions highlighted the MQ-28’s capabilities. These capabilities include autonomous mission execution, multi-ship formation operations, deployment from RAAF Base Tindal, and integration with the E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft. According to Boeing, the aircraft achieved over 150 live flying hours and surpassed 20,000 hours of virtual testing.
Role of the Ghost Bat in Air Combat
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) intended to support crewed platforms by undertaking high-risk air combat roles. It showcased secure data fusion and communication among multiple uncrewed and crewed platforms, emphasizing its potential as a force multiplier in future operations.
Future Development Phases
“The RAAF tasked us with proving the initial four steps in the Air Combat chain for the MQ-28, and we have met this challenge ahead of time,” said Glen Ferguson, Boeing’s MQ-28 Global Program Director. “This early completion allows us to advance into subsequent developmental phases—engage and assess—with plans for an air-to-air weapon test scheduled for later this year or early 2026.”
Incorporation into Production and Future Outlook
The verified capabilities will be integrated into the Block 2 aircraft currently under production, establishing the basis for initial operational capability with the RAAF and allied forces. Experts suggest this advancement positions the Ghost Bat as integral to evolving mixed-force frameworks that combine crewed and autonomous systems.
With these early accomplishments, the MQ-28 program represents a transition towards more autonomous operations in future air engagements. Boeing and the RAAF are moving swiftly in their development efforts, with more tests planned to define the deployment of collaborative combat aircraft by allied forces in the forthcoming decade.
