MQ-28

The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Boeing Australia in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is designed to act as a “force multiplier” to complement and enhance crewed and uncrewed military air domain missions, delivering what Boeing calls “affordable combat mass.” The MQ-28 is a sophisticated system that leverages trusted autonomy, allowing it to execute mission elements with minimal workload increase for crewed platforms. Its modular, missionized nose allows for quick swapping of payloads.

The program, originally known as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, began development around 2019, with the first flight occurring on February 27, 2021. The aircraft was later named the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, after an Australian native mammal known for hunting in packs. The primary user of the MQ-28 is the Royal Australian Air Force, and its development and production facility are based in Queensland, Australia. Boeing, a global aerospace leader, is the manufacturer, with its Defense, Space & Security division leading the effort. As an uncrewed military asset, the MQ-28 is intended for global system use by allied forces, enhancing their operational effectiveness in various mission scenarios. It has a reported range of 3,700 km (2,300 mi).