Unmanned MQ-28 drones to demonstrate collaborative combat capabilities with RAAF crewed assets
MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft will undertake teaming trials with F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning aircraft later this year as part of the Royal Australian Air Force’s ambitious autonomous warfare program.
The unmanned teaming trials will be completed as part of RAAF events known as Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25), designed to demonstrate operational effectiveness and how collaborative combat aircraft will integrate with RAAF crewed assets.
Advanced Sensor Capabilities
‘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,’ according to Australian Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
The trials build on recent breakthrough testing where Boeing and the RAAF successfully conducted a mission against an airborne target using two in-flight MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft and a third digital aircraft, all controlled from an airborne E-7A Wedgetail over Woomera, South Australia.
Operational Integration Milestone
During the landmark mission, a single operator aboard the E-7A took control of the uncrewed MQ-28s, emulating their role in flying ahead of and protecting crewed assets. The trial validated key interoperability requirements to meet operational capability standards.
‘This trial demonstrates family-of-systems integration, the strength of our open systems architecture, and is a critical first step towards integrating mission partners’ software and communications systems natively into the E-7A Wedgetail,’ said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Programs director.
Future Combat Applications
The forthcoming trials will test the Ghost Bat’s ability to operate in high-threat environments alongside Australia’s premier fighter aircraft. The F/A-18F Super Hornet excels in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, whilst the F-35’s stealth and sensor fusion capabilities make it a cornerstone of modern air forces.
Integration with these platforms could enable new tactics, including using Ghost Bats to jam enemy radars or deliver precision strikes while crewed jets remain at safer distances. Boeing plans to conduct weapons testing with the MQ-28 by late 2025 or early 2026.
The CD25 trials represent a crucial step towards operationalising autonomous warfare capabilities, positioning Australia at the forefront of collaborative combat aircraft development alongside international partners.
