Staff reporter

In a live exercise involving the MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft, the demonstration showcased real-time sensor fusion, distributed command and control (C2), and autonomous kill chain execution, including an autonomous beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) air-to-air engagement.

The event, overseen by Australian Aviation’s sister brand Defence Connect, was held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on Thursday and run with support from principal partner, Commonwealth Bank.

Jack Miller’s aircraft stalled shortly after leaving the ground at Bacchus Marsh, north‑west of Melbourne, in October last year, before entering a vertical descent into the ground.

Footage from the R66’s cockpit camera showed that the autopilot was engaged while the pilot was “occupied with non-flying related tasks … specifically, mobile phone use and the consumption of food and beverages”, the ATSB said.

Thirty-seven pilots represented teams from the ADF, UK, Singapore and the US in qualifying heats that culminated in an elimination final series.

The deployment took place during Exercise Carlsbad at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory, serving as a key demonstration of the Ghost Bat’s ability to operate from remote and unfamiliar locations. It marks a significant step forward in proving the autonomous aircraft’s flexibility and operational viability within a real-world context.