In a historic trial, Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) demonstrated a mission against an airborne threat using two live MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones and a third digital aircraft, all commanded remotely from an E-7A Wedgetail.
One operator aboard the E-7A successfully controlled the MQ-28s, showcasing their potential role as autonomous escorts and forward-operating assets for crewed aircraft.
The mission was supported by software developed in partnership between Boeing Defence Australia, the Defence Science and Technology Group, and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories.
This test was part of the Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25) campaign, which will continue throughout the year to prove the MQ-28’s battlefield utility and its seamless collaboration with crewed RAAF aircraft.
Future demonstrations will involve cooperative missions with additional assets such as the F/A-18F and F-35.
