MQ-28A Ghost Bat’s major milestone, as International interest builds.

 

 

Article: Jaryd Stock
Images: Boeing & Ryan Imeson

 

 

 

In a first of its kind demonstration, Boeing Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully conducted a mission against an airborne target using two in-flight MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft and a third digital aircraft, all controlled from an airborne E-7A Wedgetail.

 

 

During the mission, a single operator onboard the E-7A took control of the uncrewed MQ-28s emulating the role they play in flying ahead of and protecting crewed assets.

“This trial demonstrates family-of-systems integration, the strength of our open systems architecture, and is a critical first step towards integrating mission partners’ software and communications systems natively into the E-7A Wedgetail,” said Glen Ferguson, director MQ-28 Global Programs.

“It not only validated a key element of the MQ-28 concept of operations, but also how collaborative combat aircraft can expand and enhance the role of the E-7A to meet future force requirements.

“It is another tangible proof point of the maturity of our program.”

Australian Minister for Defence Industry The Honourable Pat Conroy MP acknowledged the milestone saying, “The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky.”

The software was jointly developed and implemented by Boeing Defence Australia, Defence Science and Technology Group and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories.

“It has been an exceptional collaborative effort across organisations from government, contractors, and global partners,” said Adam Tsacoumangos, director of Air Dominance Programs for Boeing’s Phantom Works.

This trial is part of a series of events with RAAF assets throughout this year, collectively known as Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25).

CD25 will demonstrate MQ-28 operational effectiveness and how collaborative combat aircraft will integrate and operate with RAAF crewed assets.

Future events will involve teaming with other assets, including Air Combat Groups F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Lightning II, with 75 Squadron which operate the F-35 given a look at the MQ-28A capabilities in Exercise Carlsbad which was held at RAAF Base Tindal in April (See Video at top of article for more on Ex Carlsbad).

At the Paris Airshow this week at Le Bourget, Boeing spoke at length at a press conference detailing how they are looking for European partners to further develop the Loyal Wingman program which has been steadily gaining momentum in Australia.

“We want to look at what are some of the potential opportunities to replicate that model inside of Europe,” says Bernd Peters, head of business development at Boeing Defence Systems. “We know the script well.”

The Royal Air Force is keenly interested in the MQ-28A as the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence look to fulfil a need looking at autonomous collaborative platforms that can team with the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) which is a 6th generation fighter aircraft known as the ‘Tempest program in the UK.

RAF would be keenly watching the results from the pairing of the two Ghost Bat aircraft with the Wedgetail as the airforce plans to operate three E-7A Wedgetail AEW Mk.1 with No.8 Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth.

 

RAAF along with Boeing Australia plan to conduct weapons tests from the MQ-28A possibly at the end of 2025 or in first quarter of 2026, with a decision by the Australian Government on next phase of procurement for the program