A Milestone in Drone Development
Australia is poised to conduct its inaugural live weapon launch from the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone before the year’s end, as revealed by Boeing’s Defense chief at the Avalon Air Show.
“We are accelerating toward a successful weapon shot from the drone this year,” stated Steve Parker, interim President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “The company is advancing its collaboration with the customer, targeting a weapon discharge later this year or early next year.”
Focus on Air-to-Air Capabilities
Parker clarified that the initial weapon shot will be air-to-air, with plans to explore air-to-ground capabilities in the future. Details regarding the specific weapon to be used will be disclosed at a later date.
The Ghost Bat marks Australia’s first domestically designed and manufactured aircraft in over half a century, with hopes that the initiative will foster a significant export market. In 2023, Australia inked a data sharing agreement with the United States, and at least one Ghost Bat model has been observed in the U.S.
Program Progress Report
During the air show, Boeing announced that the MQ-28 had successfully completed its 100th test flight, with Parker noting that they had actually reached 102 flights. He stated that there are currently eight Block 1 Ghost Bats undergoing flight tests and two Block 2 aircraft in production. By the year’s end, a total of 11 Ghost Bats are expected to be participating in live testing.
“The strength of the Block 1 aircraft lies in its capacity to test and refine our autonomy, AI, and algorithms,” Parker emphasized.
Enhancements for Survivability and Production
Amy List, managing director of Boeing Defence Australia, highlighted that the transition from Block 1 to Block 2 primarily focuses on enhancing the aircraft’s survivability in contested environments. The initial rounds of testing have yielded valuable insights for future upgrades.
“For instance, ensuring the navigation equipment is resilient against electronic defeat is a priority. These upgrades have allowed us to improve the aircraft’s production viability and simplify maintenance processes, leading to several structural changes in preparation for production,” she explained.
Collaboration with Key Military Aircraft
Notably, the MQ-28 is expected to execute operationally relevant missions by year-end alongside the E-7 Wedgetail and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—two aircraft integral to both Australia and the U.S. Boeing remains optimistic about eventually marketing the Ghost Bat to the United States. Australian Defense Minister Pat Conroy has previously indicated that the Ghost Bat could also complement F-18 and P-8 operations.
“We have numerous capability demonstrations planned,” Parker noted. “We will collaborate in data sharing with the E-7 and are exploring operations with additional platforms in the U.S., including the F-15EX. Our focus is on validating every facet of what a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) should encompass.”
