The Australian government has previously described the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat as an autonomous, unmanned, and collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) capable of operating alongside high-performance, manned combat aircraft. (Commonwealth of Australia/Boeing)
The Australian government has said it has not ruled out the possibility of equipping the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with weapons. This is despite recent media reports in Australia that said Canberra is considering the platform primarily for unarmed reconnaissance operations.
The Australian government has previously said that MQ-28A – being developed by Boeing and the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) under Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) Loyal Wingman-Advanced Development Programme – will operate alongside high-performance, manned combat aircraft and provide strike and intelligence support. However, media reports in late July said the government is now considering a dedicated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) role for the UAV.
Australia's Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite said in a media interview on 24 July that the MQ-28A is “a really important part of the reconnaissance and surveillance programme that's being developed by the Albanese government”, according to a transcript published by the DoD. According to Thistlethwaite, the programme has “huge export potential for Australia”.
However, Thistlethwaite added that he is aware that the programme “has the capability in the future to be an armed and a combat [UAV]”, adding that these “decisions will be made in the future”.
When asked by Janes for clarification on these comments, the DoD directed Janes to remarks by Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles, who said misunderstandings about the role of the MQ-28A could have been prompted by discussions about the UAV's payloads.
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