Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat unveiled at Farnborough airshow

Boeing introduced its unmanned combat aircraft, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026. The prototype demonstrated its ability to launch an AIM‑120 AMRAAM missile and had already completed more than 100 flight trials, including a live‑fire event in December 2025 that destroyed an aerial target using a distributed‑engagement model with an E‑7A Wedgetail and an F/A‑18F Super Hornet.

The company announced three new international partners for the program: Germany’s Hensoldt will supply sensor‑integration expertise, Italy’s Leonardo will provide an infrared search‑and‑track (IRST) system, and Eaton will develop a specialized ejector system for internal payloads. An Australian three‑year contract worth A$ 754 million was signed in December 2025 for seven additional Ghost Bats and related development and support services. The aircraft’s key specifications include a 11.7‑metre length, 3‑tonne weight, a maximum speed of Mach 0.9, a service ceiling of about 12 000 metres and a range exceeding 3 700 km, with a modular nose allowing rapid sensor and electronic‑warfare payload changes.