In a first of its kind demonstration, Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have 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. During the mission, a single operator onboard the E-7A took control of the uncrewed MQ-28s emulating the role they play in flying ahead of and protecting crewed assets. The software was jointly developed and implemented by Boeing Defence Australia, Defence Science and Technology Group and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories. This trial is part of a series of events with RAAF assets throughout this year, collectively known as Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25). CD25 will demonstrate MQ-28 operational effectiveness and how collaborative combat aircraft will integrate and operate with RAAF crewed assets. Future events will involve teaming with other assets, including F/A-18F and F-35.
Australian Minister for Defence Industry The Honourable Pat Conroy MP acknowledged the milestone saying, “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.”
“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. It not only validated a key element of the MQ-28 concept of operations, but also how collaborative combat aircraft can expand and enhance the role of the E-7A to meet future force requirements. It is another tangible proof point of the maturity of our program,” said Glen Ferguson, director MQ-28 Global Programs.
“It has been an exceptional collaborative effort across organisations from government, contractors, and global partners,” said Adam Tsacoumangos, director of Air Dominance Programs for Boeing’s Phantom Works.
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 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.
The Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, also marketed as the Boeing 737 AEW&C, is a twin-engine airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the Boeing 737 Next Generation design. It has a fixed, active electronically scanned array radar antenna instead of a rotating one as with the 707-based Boeing E-3 Sentry. The E-7 was designed for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under “Project Wedgetail” and designated E-7A Wedgetail. Australia ordered four AEW&C aircraft with options for three additional aircraft, two of which have since been taken up. The first two Wedgetails were assembled, modified and tested in Seattle, Washington, while the remainder were modified by Boeing Australia, with deliveries once set to begin in 2006. Boeing and Northrop teamed with Boeing Australia, and BAE Systems Australia. Boeing Australia provides training, maintenance and support, BAE provides EWSP systems, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems and ground support systems.
