The Collaborative Fight Plane operated for the primary time outdoors of the Woomera Coaching Space throughout Train Carlsbad in April 2025 at RAAF Tindal, which hosts F-35A and MQ-4C models.
Early in April 2025, the Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) examined the MQ-28A Ghost Bat Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA) for per week at RAAF Tindal within the Northern Territory, marking the primary time it operated outdoors the Woomera Coaching Space in South Australia the place it solely operated because the first flight. Boeing and the Australian Division of Defence first revealed the event on Jun. 20, with extra information launched on Jun. 25.
Known as Train Carlsbad, the announcement of the trial marketing campaign on the operational RAAF base comes after Boeing Defence Australia introduced on Jun. 16, 2025 that an E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C plane managed two Ghost Bats in a mission towards a simulated goal. It’s unclear when this train occurred, though we can not exclude that the manned-unmanned teaming occasion may need occurred throughout Train Carlsbad.
On the time, Boeing stated that future occasions would additionally embrace the F/A-18F and F-35 fighters. As a matter of truth, RAAF Tindal hosts F-35s in addition to MQ-4C Triton UAS.
The press launch about April’s “first mission at a deployed location” defined that the train additionally examined easy methods to deploy the MQ-28 in an unfamiliar atmosphere. Due to this, the plane was transported to RAAF Tindal in a C-17 “inside a seven day interval” it carried out the primary flight, stated Boeing’s newest launch.
Train Carlsbad Commander Wing Commander Phillip Parsons stated within the DoD launch that the C-17 Globemaster transported the “functionality direct from the Australian Worldwide Air Present.” That present was held from Mar. 25 to Mar. 30, 2025, implying Train Carlsbad was held very early within the first week of April
Train Carlsbad’s profitable completion “demonstrated that the MQ-28A can conduct operations from a location outdoors of the Woomera Coaching Space, South Australia, which thus far has been the unique working location for the MQ-28A,” added the press launch.
Flight of the Ghost Bat! ✈️👻🦇
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat achieved first flight outdoors of Woomera Coaching space throughout Train Carlsbad.
Ghost Bat is the primary army plane designed and in-built Australia in additional than 50 years. #YourADF pic.twitter.com/mO3Y0upyB6
— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) June 21, 2025
Examined with F-35A and MQ-4C Triton?
Pictures launched by each Boeing and the Division of Defence confirmed a Ghost Bat on the tarmac, with a Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) F-35A taxing behind “after a sortie.” Within the quick minute-and-a-half video characteristic by Defence Australia, Wing Commander Philip Parsons stated the MQ-28 crew collaborated with the RAAF’s No. 17 Squadron, No. 9 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron at Tindal “to realize what we have to do.” The final two squadrons home-based at RAAF Tindal function the MQ-4C Triton ISR UAV and the F-35A Lightning II, respectively.
One other picture confirmed the Ghost Bat, the Triton and the Lightning II parked on the finish of the runway for an official {photograph}, representing the three plane which participated in Train Carlsbad.
We’ve accomplished our first flight at an operational Air Power base with the help of @AusAirForce, testing our skill to deploy and fly from unfamiliar environments.
📷 F-35A Lightning II taxis previous MQ-28 at RAAF Base Tindal.
Extra: pic.twitter.com/qRjI7OcJXV
— Boeing Australia (@BoeingAustralia) June 25, 2025
This means the MQ-28A might have had some type of interplay with the F-35A and the MQ-4C Triton. The RAAF’s idea envisions the employment of the MC-55A Peregrine, E-7A Wedgetail and multirole plane just like the F-35A Lightning II and the E/A-18G Growler as a mixed community of multirole strike and electromagnetic sensing plane.
Idea illustrations from Boeing have proven the Ghost Bat flying with the E-7A Wedgetail, beside the F-15EX and the EA-18G Growler. Boeing had beforehand stated the AI-enabled Ghost Bat can “work as a sensible crew with present army plane to enrich and prolong airborne missions.” It might additionally serve in an escort function for high-value help belongings such because the E-7A or KC-30 aerial refueler.
The MQ-28A is supposed to “to crew with crewed platforms performing mission roles and duties typical of fighter plane, complementing and increasing airborne missions whereas growing situational consciousness and survivability,” the Australian Division of Defence launch added.
Thus the official statements, pictures, the image captions and the context of the train are wanting an express affirmation that the Ghost Bat interacted with the F-35A and the MQ-4C within the air. What that interplay constituted stays unclear, however might have concerned establishing elementary communication and information switch protocols between the plane.
Train Carlsbad
Wg. Cdr. Philip Parsons stated within the quick video that they carried out a “bunch of floor occasions – engine runs, floor runs, some high-speed taxi trials on the airfield – simply to substantiate all our methods are in good working order.” Parsons, a distant methods pilot, was additionally the primary RAAF and non-Boeing pilot to fly the plane from the bottom management station on Jun. 13, 2024.
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat then “went flying, flew a circuit and at the moment are again right here [at RAAF Tindal],” Parsons added. The Ghost Bat can be seen raised on hydraulic jacks as its touchdown gear is being lowered throughout floor testing. Train Carlsbad figured the “basic inputs to functionality” concerning “easy methods to deploy, easy methods to function in a unique location with the MQ-28 Ghost Bat,” Parsons added.
Throughout Parsons’s first operation of the Ghost Bat talked about above, Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28 world program director Glen Ferguson stated that the unmanned plane groups with “piloted plane by way of an ‘operator-in-the-loop’ strategy.” Whereas it’s AI-enabled and autonomous, Parsons, because the launch and restoration operator, would oversee its floor preparation, take-off and touchdown operations. This provides “one other layer of security, and Parsons’s coaching included observing and monitoring the plane because it executed instructions to climb and descend, speed up and decelerate, or navigate alongside waypoints.”
Operational location, unfamiliar environments
Boeing Defence Australia known as Train Carlsbad at RAAF Base Tindal “a proof level for the autonomous plane’s skill to determine operations and deploy from […] unfamiliar environments.” Ferguson stated within the launch this proved its “utility […] throughout various situations.”
“This deployment […] gives a robust basis for future functionality demonstrations together with teaming with crewed RAAF belongings. It was additionally a possibility for us to execute a number of the components required to combine MQ-28 into the pressure combine together with interacting with a number of Defence organisations and models,” he added.
Defence Australia stated Train Carlsbad’s “profitable completion” is a part of an effort to proceed to “assess the MQ-28A Ghost Bat by way of systematic testing in each dwell and digital environments, and stays centered on demonstrating MQ-28A platform, payload and system functionality in 2025.”
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) have, for the primary time, deployed and operated the MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative fight plane from an operational Air Power base. #aviation #aerospace pic.twitter.com/GFdi65Na9z
— Australian Aviation (@ausaviation) June 26, 2025
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat in Train Carlsbad
Apparently, the Ghost Bat seen within the video has a full dark-grey paint scheme, in comparison with the one with a number of orange components seen to this point on the Ghost Bats. Of the eight Block 1 Ghost Bats which have been reported to be produced, a most of 4 have been photographed with this paint scheme.
These components on the Ghost Bat seen within the newest take a look at are painted darkish black. The one which flew for the primary time in Feb. 2021 bore serial PRV-001 and sported a flight information probe (pitot tube) on the nostril. The plane seen in the course of the train, bearing the serial ATS-005, will not be outfitted with an information probe.
ATS would possibly consult with the undertaking’s authentic title, ‘Airpower Teaming System’. It’s not clear whether or not it is a new manufacturing mannequin within the Block 1 sequence, an unseen airframe that has not been photographed to this point, or an present construct that has been repainted.
The closely stealth-centric design has additionally been proven with three totally different nostril sections in computerized illustrations, with one sporting what looks as if a FLIR/IRST (Ahead-Trying Infrared/Infrared Search and Observe). Its 1.5 cubic meter nostril can maintain interchangeable ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance Reconnaissance), aerial radar surveillance and EW/ELINT payloads.
The DSR acknowledges the significance of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat to our air area.
As the primary army fight plane in 50 years to be designed, engineered & manufactured in 🇦🇺 #AusAirForce recognises how our #STEMProfessionals are enhancing Air Power functionality.#scienceweek pic.twitter.com/3wsTrPeYtw
— Air Marshal Stephen Chappell (@CAF_Australia) August 16, 2023
Eight Block 1 Ghost Bats have been produced to this point, whereas the Block 2 are anticipated to be prepared by 2025. The eight energetic Block 1 MQ-28As have till now carried out 102 take a look at flights. As The Aviationist reported in context of Saab offering tools for Australia’s Ghost Bats, the Block 2s will likely be knowledgeable by outcomes of the testing on the Block 1 plane.
Royal Australian Air Power begins coaching first pilots to function MQ-28A Ghost Bat Loyal Wingman drones pic.twitter.com/qFj7U0Fymu
— Roni Sontani (@Roni_Sont) August 26, 2024
Whereas the Block 2 Ghost Bats won’t have important airframe modifications, they’d lose the dogtooth wing sported on the Block 1s. Different upgrades would contain maintenance-friendly inner elements, and a brand new International Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS).
