SINGAPORE — Australia is at the forefront of developing collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), fully supporting the MQ-28A Ghost Bat program led by Boeing Defence Australia.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is currently testing eight Block 1 versions of these aircraft. Additionally, the first of three Block 2 versions, ordered in February 2024, is undergoing ground tests and is expected to take flight shortly, as reported by the manufacturer.
On December 9, 2025, Boeing Defence Australia revealed that the RAAF had placed an order for seven more Ghost Bats. This latest order, worth AUS$754 million (approximately US$534 million), includes six Block 2 CCAs and the inaugural Block 3 aircraft.
By 2028, the Australian air force plans to have 10 operational Ghost Bats. Concerned by China’s growing military capabilities, Australia is focusing on enhancing its long-range deterrence capabilities. Unmanned systems like the Ghost Bat play a crucial role in this strategy, enabling the projection of airpower well beyond Australia’s borders.
Fleet Composition
Recently, Boeing Defence Australia showcased two demonstrations. In the first, a pair of MQ-28As flew in formation, coordinated by an E-7A Wedgetail that functioned akin to a quarterback.
“This mission was executed to engage a target at a significant distance and complete the find, fix, track, and target phases of the air-to-air kill chain,” explained Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Program Director at Boeing Defence, during this month’s Singapore Airshow.
The subsequent demonstration on December 8, 2025, marked the MQ-28A’s first missile launch, during which a Ghost Bat fired an AIM-120 AMRAAM from an external mount at a Phoenix drone. An F/A-18F Super Hornet provided the targeting data, and an E-7A handled command and control.
“We showcased the engage-assess phase of the kill chain, deliberately demonstrating that all aspects of the mission can be managed through a combination of manned and unmanned teaming,” Ferguson added.
The Block 3 version is designed to carry internally either one missile the size of an AMRAAM or two bombs equivalent to the GBU-39/B. Boeing has also tested an electronic warfare payload, an infrared seeker, and several other sensor packages, details of which Ferguson chose not to disclose.
“The key insight from developing CCAs is that they are not merely replacement aircraft,” he stated.
According to Pat Conroy, Australia’s Minister for Defense Industry, the government envisions a fleet configuration with at least three unmanned aerial platforms for every manned combat aircraft.
Production and International Sales
The construction of a Ghost Bat production facility in Toowoomba, Queensland, is set to be completed this year, with operations commencing in 2027.
Boeing aims to produce each Ghost Bat at a cost that is 10% of a manned combat aircraft, a goal Ferguson believes is achievable. “We are very confident in our ability to keep this aircraft affordable; it was designed with cost-effectiveness in mind from the start,” he mentioned.
Boeing also has plans to export these aircraft. “We are currently engaged in discussions with numerous potential customers about how they might integrate CCA capabilities into their forces,” Ferguson noted, highlighting Japan as a potential partner.
Despite being a frontrunner in CCA testing, the Ghost Bat faces competition. Anduril Industries showcased its Fury, designated YFQ-44 by the U.S. Air Force, in Australia last year. Additionally, General Atomics is advancing its Gambit family of collaborative combat aircraft.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
