By September 2025, the Ghost Bat program was ahead of schedule, and the Australian government was expecting foreign orders from other air forces and allied military branches
The Ghost Bat drone aircraft is the first combat aircraft designed and developed in Australia in over half a century. In February 2019, Boeing said that it will “depend on the market” whether the aircraft is manufactured in Australia or the United States. Ghost Bat will remain a sovereign Australian program, with aircraft only being produced in Australia and the lead partner on the program being the RAAF. On 4 November 2021, Boeing Australia announced the Melbourne facility, Boeing Aerostructures Australia, had already commenced construction of its fifth aircraft. On 26 March 2024, Boeing Australia announced the commencement of construction of a 9,000 square-metre factory complex, named the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct, in Wellcamp, Toowoomba, in partnership with the Wagner Corporation. While earthworks begin, Wagner Corporation is continuing to work with Boeing Australia to finalise the production facility design and architectural features. This facility had initially been announced on 21 September 2021 by the Queensland Premier to support construction of the Ghost Bat.
The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, previously known as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS), is a stealth, multirole, unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is designed as a force multiplier aircraft capable of flying alongside crewed aircraft for support as part of an integrated system (loyal wingman) including space-based capabilities, and performing autonomous missions independently using artificial intelligence.
As of October 2024, eight Block 1 vehicles have been built with more than 100 hours of flight testing. Operational tests have taken place at Australia’s RAAF Woomera Test Range Complex approximately one out of every three months, with the aircraft flying one to three sorties daily, including some flights at night. The aircraft has also been operated from RAAF Base Tindal demonstrating the ability to be deployed from a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and also be controlled by an airborne Boeing E-7 Wedgetail. Three additional Block 2 airframes featuring an improved wing and GPS/INS will be produced by 2025.
As of 2025, the aircraft are designed and built in Melbourne at Boeing Aerostructures Australia with future production planned in Wellcamp, Toowoomba. The wing is Boeing’s largest resin-infused single composite component, featuring electromechanical actuators and controllers for the primary flight control system, and has a modular, swappable mission nose package system. Live fire testing of air-to-air weapons is planned for late 2025.
In September 2025, it was confirmed the program was ahead of schedule, and the government was expecting foreign orders.
In the official naming ceremony held at RAAF Base Amberley on 21 March 2022, it was announced the Loyal Wingman will be named the MQ-28A Ghost Bat in RAAF service, named after an Australian bat found in northern parts of the Australian continent. The ghost bat is an Australian native mammal known for teaming together in a pack to detect and hunt, which reflects the unique characteristics of the aircraft’s sensors and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance abilities.
The RAAF initially planned to buy three Airpower Teaming System (ATS) systems, as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program (LWADP). These three drones were built at an automated production line in Melbourne, Victoria. The order was increased to six with an A$115 million contract days after the first flight. As of 9 May 2023, the Australian government confirmed its commitment to funding 10 aircraft for the RAAF, not including three prototypes that will not be owned by the government or operated by the RAAF. This takes the government’s total investment in the Loyal Wingman program to over A$600 million. The uncrewed platforms are scheduled to enter service with the RAAF in 2024-25.
In February 2024, the Australian Government announced a further A$400 million in funding for three more aircraft, built to the new “Block 2” standard. The announced improvements included developments to the wing, GPS, sensors, mission payloads, integrated combat system and the autonomous systems.
