The Ghost Bat was managed from aboard an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail and obtained concentrating on knowledge from an F/A-18F Tremendous Hornet earlier than firing the AIM-120.
Boeing Defence Australia introduced on Dec. 9, 2025 the primary live-fire check of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Superior Medium-Vary Air-to-Air Missile) from an MQ-28A Ghost Bat CCA (Collaborative Fight Plane). Noting this was the primary time an autonomous fight drone examined the missile, Boeing stated the live-shot concerned the Ghost Bat teaming up with an RAAF (Royal Australian Air Power) E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Management) plane and F/A-18F Tremendous Hornet.
Boeing had beforehand introduced a earlier check in June the place two MQ-28s have been managed by an RAAF E-7A in a mission in opposition to a simulated airborne goal. Boeing and the RAAF had additionally demonstrated the MQ-28A’s capability to community and coordinate with the MQ-4C Triton and the F-35A Lightning II.
The MQ-28, E-7A, and F/A-18F efficiently demonstrated an autonomous air-to-air weapon engagement. The MQ-28 proves fight functionality — lowering threat for crewed plane and offering larger tactical attain. pic.twitter.com/KT464nwftN
— Boeing Australia (@BoeingAustralia) December 9, 2025
Dwell Fireplace Check
Boeing had first introduced this deliberate reside check in March 2025, after which reiterated the upcoming stage within the MQ-28QA Ghost Bat’s improvement on the sidelines of the Dubai Air Present – that point particularly figuring out the missile because the AIM-120. The corporate referred to as the general check effort as a “power built-in air-to-air autonomous weapon engagement” that concerned the MQ-28 “teaming with a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail and F/A-18F Tremendous Hornet to destroy a fighter-class goal drone.”
The reside fireplace check, referred to as “Trial Kareela 25-4” by the Australian Defence Power and performed on Dec. 8, noticed the MQ-28 armed with an AIM-120 AMRAAM. Notably, tape was utilized on the markings that denoted the missile’s variant and serial quantity, though the form and fins determine it as an AIM-120C or newer variant.
Kareela 25-4 is check marketing campaign happening at RAAF Base Woomera in South Australia from Nov. 17 to Dec. 12. The RAAF described it as “an illustration of a Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA) using an air-to-air weapon in opposition to an aerial goal in an operationally related state of affairs.”
The CCA carried the missile externally on a ventral hardpoint, with the missile pushed down by two retracting holds and its rocket motor igniting after descending a ways away from the plane. A goal drone, recognized as Phoenix jet-powered drones operated by Qinetiq, can also be proven being launched from the bottom, however the general video doesn’t present the missile placing the drones, in contrast to the Kizilelma-Gökdoğan BVR AAM check late in November.
“That is the primary time an autonomous plane has accomplished an air-to-air weapon engagement with an AIM-120 missile, establishing the MQ-28 as a mature fight succesful CCA,” stated Boeing Defence Australia’s managing director, Amy Checklist, within the press launch. “This newest achievement proves the benefit specialised CCA platforms deliver to protection forces’ mission effectiveness, delivering elevated operational mass and knowledge trade for knowledgeable decision-making whereas lowering price and crewed pilot threat.”
The check suggests the Ghost Bat acted as an off-board weapons launch platform, leveraging sensor, detection, management and steerage knowledge from the E-7A and F/A-18F. The three platforms have been launched from separate places in line with the press launch, and the Tremendous Hornet is proven flying off the Ghost Bat’s wing.
Thanks to the Australian Authorities. MQ-28 funding by to 2028 backs new plane manufacturing and Block 3 plane improvement — prepping for @AusAirForce operations and accelerating functionality. pic.twitter.com/6YXa4iuhos
— Boeing Australia (@BoeingAustralia) December 9, 2025
“As soon as airborne, an E-7A operator took custodianship of the MQ-28 making certain security and engagement oversight,” the discharge defined. “The F/A-18F teamed with the MQ-28 in fight formation to supply sensor protection, and as soon as the Tremendous Hornet recognized and tracked the goal, concentrating on knowledge was shared throughout all three platforms. The MQ-28 adjusted its place and obtained authorization from the E-7A to interact and efficiently destroy the goal utilizing a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.”
The testing state of affairs is broadly per the Australian Division of Defence’s earlier suggestion that the Ghost Bat can serve in an escort function for high-value help belongings such because the E-7A or KC-30 aerial refueler. Usually, the MQ-28A is supposed to “to group with crewed platforms performing mission roles and obligations typical of fighter plane, complementing and lengthening airborne missions whereas growing situational consciousness and survivability,” the Australian Division of Defence defined.
‘Mature platform’
The RAAF and Boeing are working to proceed improvement on the MQ-28, with a Block 2 variant being constructed utilizing the teachings realized from the present Block 1 plane. This new variant is the one which can present the Preliminary Operational Functionality for the sort within the RAAF.
“The capabilities validated all through 2025 might be integrated into the Block 2 plane now in manufacturing, forming the idea of an preliminary operational functionality for the RAAF and allied companions,” the corporate had stated on Sep. 5, saying the profitable conclusion of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat’s Functionality Demonstration 2025 check marketing campaign with the RAAF. These have been held between April and June, and concerned the aforementioned checks with the E-7, F-35A and MQ-4C.
Relating to the newest check, Vice President and Common Supervisor for Boeing’s Phantom Works division Colin Miller stated it demonstrated the “maturity and class of Boeing’s mission autonomy answer which is constructed on open requirements and authorities architectures and is able to integrating with fourth, fifth and sixth technology plane.” He additional outlined this as “a real instance of speed-to-capability.”
“The group applied open architectures and a complicated digital ecosystem to develop the required {hardware}, software program, and mission programs required to efficiently combine, check and make use of the weapon in a reside, operationally related state of affairs in below eight months,” added Miller.
Idea illustrations have proven the Ghost Bat’s nostril to be swappable, with payloads for ISR and digital warfare/digital intelligence roles. A number of the Block 1 MQ-28s have additionally been outfitted with an IRST (InfraRed Search and Monitor) sensor.
Future
Apparently, Boeing’s press launch additionally talked about the U.S. Air Power as being one of many companions within the “collaborative effort,” hinting the service has saved its doorways open to amass some models of the drone, after having beforehand obtained not less than one for testing. Notably, an MQ-28 was seen within the background of a video launched after the U.S. Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth visited Naval Air Station Level Mugu, California.
.@SECWAR spoke to our warriors at Naval Air Station Level Magu:
He reminded them that WE HAVE THEIR BACKS! pic.twitter.com/SzlklDHbfX
— DOW Fast Response (@DOWResponse) December 6, 2025
Ought to the U.S. Air Power determine to acquire the MQ-28, the expanded acquisition would unfold out prices between the service and the RAAF. Nevertheless, it’s unclear if the Ghost Bat’s Block 2 variant is being proposed for the Increment 2 part of CCA program.
Flight of the Ghost Bat! ✈️👻🦇
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat achieved first flight exterior of Woomera Coaching space throughout Train Carlsbad.
Ghost Bat is the primary navy plane designed and in-built Australia in additional than 50 years. #YourADF pic.twitter.com/mO3Y0upyB6
— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) June 21, 2025
The USAF presently has Anduril’s YFQ-44A and the 2 prototypes of Common Atomics’ YFQ-42A concerned in flight testing as a part of the CCA Increment 1 program. The service can also be conducting checks in parallel with the XQ-58A Valkyrie, which has been managed by manned plane earlier this 12 months.
In the meantime, the U.S. Navy not too long ago selected Boeing, together with Anduril, Lockheed Martin and Common Atomics, to supply conceptual designs for carrier-borne CCAs. The actual fact the MQ-28 was noticed at Level Mugu may also trace at an analysis by the U.S. Navy to find out the necessities for its CCA program.
