Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have completed a series of demonstrations validating the operational capabilities of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, which is designed to support crewed fighter operations.
According to Boeing’s statement, these demonstrations were part of the RAAF’s Capability Demonstration 2025 program and concluded in early June 2025, four months ahead of schedule.
“The RAAF set the task of proving the first four steps in the Air Combat chain for the MQ-28, and we have accomplished that sooner than anticipated,” the MQ-28 Global program director Glen Ferguson said.
Boeing reports that the program tested the aircraft in realistic scenarios defined by the RAAF, demonstrating its ability to operate effectively alongside crewed aircraft.
Since the launch of the program, the MQ-28 has accumulated 150 hours of flight testing and more than 20,000 hours of virtual simulations. During the demonstration phase, the aircraft performed a range of autonomous missions. These included coordinated operations with multiple Ghost Bats, deployment to RAAF Base Tindal, and integration with the E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.
The MQ-28 also demonstrated advanced data-sharing capabilities between uncrewed and crewed platforms, enhancing situational awareness for mission commanders and contributing to a connected air combat environment.
The program successfully completed the first four steps of the air combat chain. The next phase will focus on operational engagement and assessment, including air-to-air weapons testing, planned for later this year or early 2026.
The capabilities proven during these demonstrations will be incorporated into the Block 2 MQ-28 aircraft currently in production.