Australia has moved to procure its first operational batch of MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft, signing a contract with Boeing for an initial six air vehicles, according to local news report.
The deal, reported by The Sydney Morning Herald to be worth around AU$1 billion ($660 million), will mark the transition of the Ghost Bat program from extended flight testing into formal acquisition by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It would make the MQ-28 the first Australian-designed military aircraft to enter service since the GAF Nomad in the 1970s.
Developed by Boeing Australia under the Airpower Teaming System program, the MQ-28 is designed to operate alongside crewed aircraft as a so-called ‘loyal wingman’, performing missions such as intelligence collection, sensing, and potentially weapons employment while absorbing risk away from manned platforms. Boeing has previously stated that the aircraft has a range exceeding 3,700 kilometers (2,300 miles).
Trials completed ahead of schedule
The reported contract follows an accelerated flight test campaign that concluded earlier in 2025, with Boeing and the RAAF confirming that MQ-28 trials were completed four months ahead of schedule. During that phase, the aircraft demonstrated increasing autonomy and integration with other air assets, including networked operations and mission execution beyond its original development envelope.
In April 2025, the RAAF also confirmed that the MQ-28 had flown outside its designated training area for the first time, participating in a broader operational exercise. That milestone was seen as a key indicator that the aircraft was progressing beyond a controlled test setting toward more realistic operational use.
While the reported order covers only six aircraft, it is widely viewed as a gateway acquisition rather than the final fleet size. Australian officials have previously framed the Ghost Bat as a scalable capability, with quantities expected to grow if the system proves operationally viable and cost-effective. Boeing is building a production facility in Toowoomba, Queensland, which is expected to be operational by 2027.
Part of a broader shift toward autonomous systems
As of the time of writing, neither Boeing nor Australia’s Department of Defence publicly commented on the reported contract, including delivery timelines or follow-on options.
If confirmed, the order would place Australia among the first air forces worldwide to acquire a purpose-designed loyal wingman-style aircraft, as air forces increasingly look to unmanned systems to build combat mass and complement high-end crewed fighters in contested environments.
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