{"id":2278,"date":"2026-05-28T13:33:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T13:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/28\/the-mq-28-ghost-bat-is-now-flying-in-the-u-s\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T13:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T13:33:51","slug":"the-mq-28-ghost-bat-is-now-flying-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/28\/the-mq-28-ghost-bat-is-now-flying-in-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is Now Flying in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MQ-28<\/p>\n

Boeing confirmed that the MQ-28 Ghost Bat has conducted three flights at the Point Mugu Sea Range after initially flying only in Australia.<\/h2>\n

Boeing has announced on May 27, 2026, that the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is now flying in the U.S., in what has been defined as the first flights abroad after previously flying only in Australia, where the MQ-28 was developed and built by Boeing Australia. So far, the uncrewed aircraft completed three operational flight tests on the Point Mugu Sea Range<\/a> at U.S. Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California.<\/p>\n

The goal of the test flights was to validate autonomous operations and demonstrate rapid deployment and sustained operations from an allied location. The company further said<\/a> that these first operations outside of Australia signal \u201cgrowing global interest in uncrewed autonomous combat capability,\u201d as well as \u201cdemonstrate the aircraft\u2019s maturity and potential export opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

MQ-28 just went international! \"\ud83c\udf0f\"\"\u2708\"<\/p>\n

Three flights from Point Mugu proved rapid allied deployment, autonomous ops and payload integration \u2014 paving the way toward exportable uncrewed capability. pic.twitter.com\/TpvvLtfnZ0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) May 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe activity at Point Mugu is part of Boeing\u2019s ongoing flight test program to mature the MQ-28 and demonstrate operations from allied locations,\u201d Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 global program director said. \u201cMQ-28 is using this location to further prove the maturity of the program and inform future exportability.\u201d<\/p>\n

The company did not disclose when these flights were conducted. However, it was already known that at least one MQ-28<\/a> was at NAS Ventura County, as the aircraft was clearly visible in a video released after the U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to the installation in December 2025.<\/p>\n

\n

.@SECWAR<\/a> spoke to our warriors at Naval Air Station Point Magu:<\/p>\n

He reminded them that WE HAVE THEIR BACKS! pic.twitter.com\/SzlklDHbfX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) December 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is possible, however, that two aircraft are currently there. In fact, the video from December showed one of the initial MQ-28 airframes, as denoted by the livery with the orange high-visibility stipes.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the aircraft shown in the video of the flight operations from NAS Ventura County<\/a> appears one of the more recent MQ-28s with the all-gray livery. The aircraft, ATS-008, also features an Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) sensor on the nose and Boeing\u2019s Phantom Works logo on the tail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The MQ-28 shown in Boeing\u2019s video following the flights in California. | Source: Boeing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before the test flights in the U.S., U.S. Navy test pilots were deployed to Australia to work on the aircraft as part of an agreement with Australia. It is unclear if U.S. Navy pilots were also involved in the flights over the Point Mugu Sea Range.<\/p>\n

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat \u2013 Boeing Airpower Teaming System<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Designed by Boeing Defence Australia for the RAAF as a multirole system capable of operating together with crewed aircraft, the Ghost Bat was initially known as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS). The development started in 2013, with the prototype unveiled for the first time during the 2019 edition of the Australian Airshow and the\u00a0maiden<\/a>\u00a0flight on Feb. 27, 2021, at the Woomera Range Complex in Southern Australia.<\/p>\n

The multirole unmanned platform has a 1.5 cubic meter nose that can hold interchangeable payloads for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), aerial radar surveillance, EW\/ELINT sensors and other attack munitions. The aircraft has been described as a next-generation Loyal Wingman, whose development involved 55 Australian companies and, as of Feb. 2024, had received $600 million in funding.<\/p>\n

According\u00a0to Boeing, the Ghost Bat employs \u201cAI (Artificial Intelligence) to work as a smart team with existing military aircraft to complement and extend airborne missions.\u201d The size of a small, light-weight class fighter, with side air intakes, cranked-kite wings and canted V-tails, the MQ-28 can fly for nearly 3,200 km and \u201cfly independently\u201d with its AI.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
An F\/A-18F Super Hornet flies in formation with an MQ-28A Ghost Bat during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia. | Source: Australian Defence Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Renders\u00a0from Boeing have shown the Ghost Bat flying with support and special mission aircraft like the\u00a0E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C<\/a>\u00a0aircraft and the F-15EX. According to Ferguson, \u201cduring a typical mission, a launch and recovery operator [\u2026] would oversee the aircraft as it takes flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would then be handed off to a crewed aircraft, such as an E-7A, F-35A or F\/A-18F, whose crew tasks it to perform, for example, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission,\u201d added Ferguson while explaining the concept of operations. The\u00a0MUM-T<\/a>\u00a0(Manned Unmanned Teaming) might not necessarily take place in close formation, but it could work even with the aircraft very far apart over dozens of kilometers, depending on mission requirements.<\/p>\n

The heavily stealth-oriented design has also been shown in renderings with three different nose sections, with one integrating an\u00a0IRST<\/a>\u00a0(Infrared Search and Track) sensor. Based on their appearance, the other two could possibly be meant for ISR and EW\/ELINT roles, the latter involving locating, jamming or overwhelming adversary ground radars.<\/p>\n

The MQ-28 could also serve in an\u00a0escort role for high-value support assets<\/a>\u00a0like the E-7A AEW&C aircraft or KC-30 aerial refuelers. It is however not known if the unmanned aircraft is viewed as an attritable system used for enhancing manned platforms\u2019 survivability. Following the mission\u2019s completion, \u201cthe aircraft would be handed back to the launch and recovery operator to oversee landing, deceleration and complete stop of the vehicle,\u201d Ferguson said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia. | Source: Australian Defence Force<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The uncrewed aircraft reached some important milestones in the last year. Among these was the June 2025 test which saw an E-7 Wedgetail controlling two MQ-28s in a mission against a simulated airborne target.<\/p>\n

In December 2025, Boeing disclosed the first live-fire test of the MQ-28<\/a> with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). On that occasion, the aircraft teamed up with an E-7 Wedgetail and an F\/A-18F Super Hornet of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).<\/p>\n

The RAAF described it as \u201ca demonstration of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) employing an air-to-air weapon against an aerial target in an operationally relevant scenario.\u201d It is likely the Ghost Bat acted as an off-board weapons release platform, leveraging sensor, detection, control and guidance data from the crewed platforms.<\/p>\n

Future developments<\/h3>\n

In February 2024, the Australian government has announced $259.5 million in funding to further develop key systems for the Boeing MQ-28A and build three new aircraft in the\u00a0Block 2 configuration<\/a>. The Block 2 will have an enhanced design and improved capabilities, with the funding supporting also additional critical sensors and mission payloads.<\/p>\n

\"Saab<\/a>
The MQ-28A during the second test flight series at Woomera Range Complex in South Australia. | Source: Australia Deparment of Defence via Boeing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boeing is currently producing the Block 2 variant at its Melbourne facility, which was initially expected to fly by the end of 2025. The Block 2 will not have significant airframe changes, and has in fact been described as an operational variant of the Block 1.<\/p>\n

The Block 2 will not have major airframe changes from the Block 1, with the main external change being the removal of the Block 1\u2019s dogtooth wing, while internally the aircraft will get changes that will improve maintainability. Block 2 will also get a new Global Positioning System (GPS)\/Inertial Navigation System (INS).<\/p>\n

The Block 1 aircraft, eight in total, will be retired once the Block 2s are ready. Australia\u2019s minister for defense industry, Pat Conroy, said that one objective for the program, following the demonstration phase in 2025, will be the ability to produce MQ-28As at 10% of the cost of an aircraft such as the\u00a0F-35A<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Boeing is already working on the Block 3, which will be the variant pledged to the international market and to be produced starting in 2028. The company is planning to field operationally the Block 2 on the same year.<\/p>\n

\"MQ-28<\/a>
An MQ-28A Ghost Bat Block 1 taking off during Exercise Carlsbad in April 2025. | Source: Defence Australia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Aviation Week<\/em><\/a>, the Block 3 will see the wings extended by 3 m on each side. This will allow for a 30% increase in fuel, and thus a \u201cquite significant range increase.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Block 3 will also include the internal weapons bay, sized for AIM-120 AMRAAM or GBU-39 and GBU-53 Small Diameter Bombs. The weapons bay might also be retrofitted on the Block 2, should the RAAF require it.<\/p>\n

Similarly to the Block 1 and 2 airframes, the Block 3 will be powered by a Williams International FJ44-A engine, according to Aviation Week<\/em>. Notably, the FJ44 is also used by another CCA, the Anduril YFQ-44<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Boeing confirmed that the MQ-28 Ghost Bat has conducted three flights at the Point Mugu Sea Range after initially flying only in Australia. Boeing has announced on May 27, 2026, that the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is now flying in the U.S., in what has been defined as the first flights abroad after previously flying only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2278\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}