iscover
Three ‘second-generation’ prototypes of the Ghost Bat are expected to be complete by the end of next year, according to information from manufacturer Boeing Australia.
The aerospace giant has produced a total of eight MQ-28A prototype aircraft, with three Block 2 variants currently in production.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The aircraft, unveiled to the world in May 2020, is the first military aircraft designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years. It uses AI to help both crewed and uncrewed aircraft in mid-air, hence its previous Australian project name, Loyal Wingman.
“The Ghost Bat is designed to act as a force multiplier, providing the Royal Australian Air Force with affordable mass and flexibility in its force mix, while reducing risk to existing crewed assets,” a Boeing Australia spokesperson said.
“We have worked closely with RAAF to mature the concept of operations for MQ-28.
“We have made significant progress in the last two years to mature the Ghost Bat capabilities, and we are working towards being able to deliver an operational capability to the Royal Australian Air Force in the next few years.
“MQ-28 was conceived, produced and tested at record speed, and recently Boeing and RAAF marked more than 100 hours of flight testing and 20,000 hours in the digital environment.”
It comes after Australian Aviation reported in August that the first RAAF member took control of Ghost Bat in a landmark moment for the program.
Wing Commander Phil Parsons, the first non-Boeing pilot to take part in the testing, executed commands such as making the aircraft climb, descend, accelerate, and decelerate.
WGCDR Parsons completed Boeing’s training on 13 June, following a career as a remote systems pilot over the past decade.
As a launch and recovery operator, WGCDR Parsons would oversee the launch and recovery of the aircraft, which involves ground preparation, take-off and landing operations.
Glen Ferguson, Boeing Defence Australia MQ-28 program director, detailed the importance of the training program, saying, “On completion of the mission, the aircraft would be handed back to the launch and recovery operator to oversee landing, deceleration, and complete stop of the vehicle.”
Boeing’s MQ-28A co-development program with the RAAF is accelerating, with the focus shifting from testing the aircraft’s flying and handling qualities to capability advancement, including progressing teaming behaviours, mission systems, sensors and payload testing.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
