Australia has advanced its autonomous air combat capabilities by contracting Boeing Defence Australia to supply six new MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones under a 1.4-billion Australian dollar ($930-million) agreement. This major milestone shifts the Ghost Bat from a developmental prototype to a capability intended for operational deployment by 2028. The order was announced shortly after the Ghost Bat performed its first live-fire test, successfully launching an AIM-120 AMRAAM. The contract covers delivery of six Block 2 airframes and the development of a next-generation Block 3 prototype featuring an internal weapons bay and other enhancements. Australia has already procured 11 Ghost Bats across Block 1 and Block 2 variants, further expanding its role as the drone’s global launch customer. This effort forms part of Canberra’s plan to invest more than 10 billion Australian dollars in uncrewed systems, including 4.3 billion allocated to UAVs. More than 440 high-skill jobs are supported nationwide. The MQ-28 delivers advanced autonomous teaming capabilities, serving as an affordable force multiplier for fighter fleets. Its modular nose design accommodates mission-specific payloads such as AESA radar, EO/IR systems, EW tools, SIGINT packages, and future internal weapons. With a 38-foot length, a range exceeding 2,000 nautical miles, and a cost a fraction of manned aircraft, the Ghost Bat strengthens Australia’s long-term airpower strategy.
