Boeing is producing the MQ-28 Ghost Bats at its Fishermans Bend facility in Victoria. This image shows the fourth and fifth MQ-28A prototypes. (Boeing)
The production of MQ-28A Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) on order by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), including three Block 2 aircraft, is on track to be completed next year, Boeing has said.
Boeing Defence Australia is contracted to produce 10 MQ-28A Block 1 CCAs for the RAAF. On 9 February 2024 the Australian government announced the approval of an additional AUD399 million (USD258.8 million) in funding for the continued development of the MQ-28A, including the production of the three Block 2 aircraft.
According to Glen Ferguson, director of the MQ-28 Global Program at Boeing, “to date”, the company “has produced a total of eight MQ-28A [Block 1] prototype aircraft, with three RAAF Block 2 variants currently in production and planned to be completed by the end of 2025”.
“We have worked closely with the RAAF to mature the concept of operations for MQ-28,” Ferguson told Janes in November, adding that “significant progress” has been made in the programme in the last two years to “mature the Ghost Bat capabilities”.
“We are working towards being able to deliver an operational capability to the RAAF in the next few years,” he added.
Boeing Australia's development of the MQ-28A is being conducted in partnership with the Australian government under RAAF's Loyal Wingman-Advanced Development Programme. Canberra regards the MQ-28A as a critical force multiplier.
An Australian Department of Defence (DoD) spokesperson told Janes
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