Ghost Bat a major milestone for local defence manufacturing

The Department of Defence has announced that the Australian made and designed autonomous aircraft, MQ-28A Ghost Bat, has achieved a major capability milestone. In a recent demonstration conducted at Woomera, a single operator aboard an airborne E-7A Wedgetail took control of two Ghost Bat aircraft to conduct a mission against an airborne target.

The Ghost Bat is the first military combat aircraft to be fully designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years.

The federal government’s investment in uncrewed and autonomous systems is one of the key priorities outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. The government is investing over $10 billion in drone capabilities including at least $4.3 billion in uncrewed aerial systems.

Developed in cooperation with Boeing Defence Australia, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat is Australia’s first exploration into collaborative combat aircraft technology. Collaborative combat aircraft are uncrewed air vehicles that have the ability to team with crewed platforms performing mission roles and responsibilities typically associated with fighter aircraft.

This project supports 350 highly-skilled jobs across the nation, including those employed at Boeing Defence Australia and more than 200 Australian suppliers.

“This is an important step forward in the development of this world-leading, Australian designed and made autonomous aircraft,” said Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy. “The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky.

“Autonomous collaborative platforms enhance the integrated force’s ability to deliver a strategy of denial, by increasing the lethality and survivability with a reduced risk to our forces.”

Image: MQ-28A Ghost Bat aircraft on a runway. Credit: Department of Defence, ©Commonwealth of Australia