The first Australian combat aircraft built in over half a century

Technology · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is more than a drone; it is a sovereign Australian project designed to act as a 'loyal wingman.' By teaming with manned jets, it can scout, absorb enemy fire, or strike independently, using artificial intelligence to redefine how air forces fight.

Boeing Australia created the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, which functions as a multirole, stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It represents a significant shift toward Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), where the drone acts as a force multiplier for aircraft like the F-35A or F/A-18F. While it can operate independently using AI, it is often controlled by a 'parent' aircraft, such as an E-7A Wedgetail, which tasks the drone with specific intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft's design prioritizes stealth and modularity. Unlike some stealth jets that rely on heavy radar-absorbent material (RAM) coatings, the MQ-28 utilizes its specific shape to reduce its radar cross-section. It features a modular nose package that can be quickly swapped to change payloads for combat, electronic warfare, or reconnaissance.

Its wing is Boeing's largest resin-infused single composite component, utilizing technology derived from the Boeing 787. The platform is also capable of high-subsonic flight, reaching speeds of 1,080 km/h (670 mph), and has a range exceeding 2,000 nautical miles. The program has reached major milestones, including the first live firing of an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile from an unmanned aircraft on December 8, 2025. In that test, the MQ-28 acted as a loyal wingman to an E-7 Wedgetail and an F/A-18F Super Hornet, providing mid-course guidance for the missile. While the RAAF is the lead partner, the program has drawn international interest from the United States, Japan, and several other nations, with the goal of achieving operational capability by 2028.

The Ghost Bat is named after an Australian native mammal known for hunting in packs, reflecting the aircraft's ability to share data and coordinate with other platforms. Production is centered in Melbourne, with a new 9,000 square-metre factory complex planned for Wellcamp, Toowoomba, to ensure the program remains a sovereign Australian initiative.

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