Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force achieve a global first by teaming MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones with an E-7A Wedgetail in a cutting-edge combat trial.
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| Boeing and RAAF showcase the future of warfare by linking uncrewed MQ-28 drones to the E-7A Wedgetail, enabling combat teaming through airborne command. Image: Boeing/ CH |
WOOMERA, South Australia, June 17, 2025:
In a landmark advancement for autonomous aerial warfare, Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully conducted a live operational mission that paired multiple MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones with an airborne E-7A Wedgetail aircraft in Australian airspace.
The historic demonstration, conducted at the Woomera Range Complex as part of Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25), involved two physical MQ-28 aircraft and one digital twin, all remotely controlled in real time by a single operator aboard the E-7A Wedgetail. The mission simulated defensive operations against airborne threats, showcasing how uncrewed platforms can act as advanced force multipliers.
“This trial demonstrates family-of-systems integration, the strength of our open systems architecture, and is a critical first step towards integrating mission partners’ software and communication systems directly into the E-7A Wedgetail,” said Glen Ferguson, director of MQ-28 Global Programs at Boeing.
Ferguson highlighted the test as a major validation of the MQ-28’s concept of operations and a milestone in enabling collaborative combat aircraft to expand the E-7A's future battlefield role.
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, The Honourable Pat Conroy MP, praised the achievement, stating, “The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky.”
The mission’s control software was the result of a multinational development effort involving Boeing Defence Australia, Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Boeing’s Adam Tsacoumangos, director of Air Dominance Programs at Phantom Works, credited the success to a “collaborative effort across governments, contractors, and global partners.”
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, designed in Australia, is a next-generation autonomous aircraft developed to operate alongside manned jets, offering intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities. The E-7A Wedgetail, meanwhile, serves as an airborne early warning and control platform, providing real-time battle management and threat detection.
CD25 is a series of trials aimed at demonstrating how the MQ-28 can integrate with and enhance RAAF’s crewed assets. Future events will test teaming between the Ghost Bat and fighter aircraft such as the F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II.
As Boeing continues to innovate in the defense and aerospace sectors, the MQ-28 program underscores a growing global emphasis on integrating artificial intelligence and unmanned systems into modern military operations. With strong international collaboration and increasing operational maturity, the Ghost Bat program positions Australia and its partners at the forefront of next-generation air combat systems.