MQ-28 Ghost Bat

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a stealthy, multirole unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) and loyal wingman, designed to team with crewed platforms like the F-35A and F/A-18F to enhance lethality, survivability, and force multiplication in multi-mission air combat operations while minimizing risks to personnel. The program, Australia's first domestically designed combat aircraft in over 50 years, originated around 2019 and has advanced through prototypes (eight Block 1 aircraft in testing), with Block 2 production underway (three ordered in 2024 plus six more in December 2025), successful air-to-air missile demonstrations in December 2025, and a major capability milestone in June 2025; the RAAF aims for 10 operational aircraft by 2028. Strategically, it bolsters Australia's long-range deterrence against regional threats like China's military rise by enabling manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), autonomous operations with AI, and a envisioned 3:1 uncrewed-to-crewed ratio, supporting denial strategies and attracting interest from US and UK forces.