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2h ago

Australia Signs A$1.4 Billion Deal for Six MQ-28A Ghost Bat Combat Drones

The buy follows a live missile test that underscored the uncrewed aircraft’s readiness to transition from trials to service.

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A Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat fighter-like drone is kept on display at the Australian International Airshow, in Avalon, Australia February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Jamie Freed
The logo of Boeing company is displayed at the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Australia March 26, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
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Overview

  • The government confirmed a contract with Boeing Defence Australia to deliver six operational MQ-28A Ghost Bats to the Australian Defence Force.
  • Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Ghost Bat recently fired an AIM-120 air-to-air missile at an aerial target in the program’s first live weapons test.
  • The MQ-28A is Australia’s first locally designed combat aircraft in more than 50 years, intended to operate as a loyal wingman with crewed jets and offering a range beyond 3,700 km.
  • Key 2025 milestones included single-operator control of two aircraft from an E-7A Wedgetail, integration of new sensor payloads, accelerated trials, and operations from RAAF Base Tindal beyond the Woomera range.
  • The initial six-aircraft order sits within a broader decade-long A$10 billion drone investment, with the program supporting over 440 skilled jobs and a Boeing production site in Toowoomba planned to be operational by 2027.