Boeing, RAAF Prove MQ-28 Operational Effectiveness

Rhea-AI Summary

Boeing (NYSE:BA) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully demonstrated the operational effectiveness of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The uncrewed platforms have completed 150 hours of testing and over 20,000 hours of virtual testing.

The Capability Demonstration 2025 missions were completed four months ahead of schedule, validating autonomous behaviors, multi-ship operations, deployment operations, teaming with E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, and data fusion capabilities. The successful demonstrations will be incorporated into the Block 2 aircraft currently in production, setting the foundation for initial operational capability for the RAAF and allied partners.

Positive

• Completed demonstration missions 4 months ahead of schedule
• Successfully validated 5 key operational capabilities
• Achieved 150 hours of testing and 20,000+ hours of virtual testing
• Air-to-air weapon testing planned for late 2025 or early 2026
• Block 2 aircraft already in production phase

Negative

• None.

Insights

Defense Technology Analyst

Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat successfully completes military demonstrations ahead of schedule, advancing its autonomous combat aircraft program.

Boeing has achieved a significant milestone with its MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, completing key operational demonstrations with the Royal Australian Air Force four months ahead of schedule. The accelerated timeline represents rare positive execution in the aerospace sector, where delays are common.

The validated capabilities are particularly noteworthy as they address core combat functionality:

• Autonomous mission execution behaviors
• Multi-ship operations for combat mass
• Successful deployment to RAAF Base Tindal
• Teaming with crewed E-7A Wedgetail platforms
• Cross-platform data fusion and transmission

With 150 hours of actual testing and over 20,000 hours of virtual testing completed, the program has demonstrated substantial maturity. This positions Boeing to advance to the next critical development phases - engage and assess - with air-to-air weapons testing planned for late 2025 or early 2026.

The successful validation enables Boeing to incorporate these capabilities into the Block 2 aircraft currently in production, establishing an initial operational capability for Australia and allied partners. This represents a strategic advancement in Boeing's defense portfolio at a time when autonomous combat capabilities are increasingly prioritized by military customers.

The MQ-28's focus on supplementing crewed platforms in high-risk environments aligns with the Pentagon's Replicator initiative and broader military transformation strategies emphasizing human-machine teaming. This positions Boeing competitively in the growing uncrewed combat aircraft segment against rivals like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

Aerospace Industry Strategist

The successful MQ-28 Ghost Bat demonstrations represent a rare bright spot in Boeing's current operational landscape, where commercial aviation challenges have dominated headlines. This defense win carries several strategic implications:

First, the four-month acceleration of the test schedule demonstrates unusual program execution excellence within Boeing's Defense, Space & Security division. The aerospace industry typically sees program delays, not accelerations, making this achievement particularly notable.

Second, autonomous combat aircraft represent a high-growth market segment with lower unit costs than traditional fighter aircraft. While a single F-35 costs approximately $80 million, collaborative combat aircraft like the MQ-28 are projected to cost significantly less while being deployable in greater numbers.

Third, the MQ-28's validation of data fusion capabilities addresses a critical military requirement for networked operations across domains. The ability to share targeting data between platforms enhances the value proposition beyond the individual aircraft's capabilities.

Most significantly, this milestone positions Boeing to capture market share in the emerging "loyal wingman" segment before competition intensifies. The Block 2 aircraft entering production establishes Boeing's first-mover advantage in fielding operational autonomous combat aircraft with a key Five Eyes ally.

The accelerated timeline for weapons integration testing further strengthens Boeing's competitive position as militaries worldwide shift budget priorities toward unmanned systems that can extend the capabilities of existing fleets without the costs and risks associated with crewed platforms.

WOOMERA, South Australia, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully completed demonstrations proving the operational viability of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

The RAAF-defined demonstrations required the MQ-28 to execute a series of operationally relevant missions designed to supplement and enhance capabilities of existing crewed platforms.

The uncrewed MQ-28 platforms and digital versions have now completed 150 hours and 20,000+ hours of virtual testing. The Capability Demonstration 2025 missions were completed in early June, four months ahead of schedule, and validated:

• autonomous behaviours and mission execution
• multi-ship operations to provide combat mass
• deployment operations to RAAF Base Tindal
• teaming with an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, and
• data fusion and sharing data between multiple MQ-28 aircraft and transmission of that data to a crewed platform.

MQ-28 is a unique autonomous capability designed to complement the find, fix, track and target elements of air combat with autonomous behaviours and reduced risk to crewed platforms.

"The RAAF set the task of proving the first four steps in the Air Combat chain for the MQ-28 and we have accomplished that sooner than anticipated," said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global program director. 

"Completing this work early allows us to accelerate the next phases of development – engage and assess – with an air-to-air weapon shot planned for later this year or in early 2026.The demonstrations have proven the maturity of MQ-28's capabilities and the utility of CCA's and their application to the future force mix," Ferguson said.

The capabilities validated throughout 2025 will be incorporated into the Block 2 aircraft now in production, forming the basis of an initial operational capability for the RAAF and allied partners.

A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

Contact
Belinda Egan
Boeing Communications
belinda.h.egan@boeing.com 

Boeing Media Relations
media@boeing.com

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SOURCE Boeing

FAQ

What milestones did Boeing achieve with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat testing?

Boeing completed 150 hours of testing and 20,000+ hours of virtual testing, validating autonomous behaviors, multi-ship operations, deployment operations, teaming with E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, and data fusion capabilities.

When will Boeing conduct air-to-air weapon testing for the MQ-28?

Boeing plans to conduct air-to-air weapon testing in late 2025 or early 2026 as part of the engage and assess phases of development.

What is the current production status of Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat?

The Block 2 aircraft are currently in production, incorporating capabilities validated throughout 2025, which will form the basis for initial operational capability for the RAAF and allied partners.

How does the MQ-28 Ghost Bat enhance Boeing's combat capabilities?

The MQ-28 is designed to complement air combat operations with autonomous behaviors, providing combat mass and reducing risk to crewed platforms while supporting find, fix, track and target elements.

What operational capabilities were validated in the Boeing MQ-28 demonstrations?

The demonstrations validated five key capabilities: autonomous behaviors, multi-ship operations, deployment operations to RAAF Base Tindal, teaming with E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, and data fusion between multiple aircraft.