The Australian government has awarded Boeing Defence Australia a 1.4-billion Australian dollar ($930-million) contract for six additional MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones, marking a major step toward operationalizing the country’s first Indigenous combat aircraft. The expanded order comes shortly after the MQ-28 achieved its first successful live-fire test, which saw the uncrewed aircraft launch an AIM-120 AMRAAM at an aerial threat in a controlled demonstration.
As part of the deal, Boeing will deliver six Block 2 variants and develop a next-generation Block 3 prototype within the next three years. These efforts align with Australia’s target of achieving operational capability for the Ghost Bat by 2028. Updated design features—most notably the integration of a compact internal weapons bay—will further expand the drone’s combat versatility. Prior to this contract, Australia had already procured eight Block 1 and three Block 2 Ghost Bat aircraft.
The MQ-28 procurement is a cornerstone of Australia’s broader 10-billion Australian dollar drone modernization strategy, including 4.3 billion Australian dollars dedicated specifically to uncrewed aerial systems. The Ghost Bat program supports more than 440 specialized jobs and is central to Australia’s push to strengthen its sovereign aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.
Engineered to operate alongside crewed fighters, the Ghost Bat delivers advanced sensing, long-range surveillance, and precision targeting capabilities. Its interchangeable nose section allows the platform to adapt quickly to different mission profiles, hosting payloads such as AESA radar, EO/IR systems, SIGINT modules, electronic attack suites, and future weapons bays. Measuring 38 feet in length, the MQ-28 boasts a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles while costing about one-tenth of a conventional combat aircraft—offering a powerful and economical force multiplier for the RAAF.
