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Boeing’s Ghost Bat Debuts in Public Flight, Clearing Way for Weapons Tests and Block 2 Production

Officials say the aircraft met RAAF milestones four months early to set up weapons trials.

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Overview

  • Two MQ-28s performed a public demonstration at the Woomera test range, with Boeing and the RAAF declaring the 2025 capability goals achieved.
  • Testing to date totals about 150 flight hours and more than 20,000 hours in simulation, validating autonomous behaviors, multi-ship teaming and data fusion with an E-7A Wedgetail.
  • Boeing plans an air-to-air missile shot from an MQ-28 later in 2025 or early 2026, with an AIM-120 slated for the trial at Woomera.
  • Capabilities proven this year are being folded into Block 2 aircraft now in production, as Boeing builds out Australian manufacturing with new Toowoomba facilities and roughly 70% local content.
  • The government is poised to add roughly A$500 million to scale production and buy more aircraft beyond the 11 already purchased, while officials flag export interest.