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Boeing Ghost Bat drone program

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-07-25 20:06 UTC → 2026-08-10 10:02 UTC · added removed

The Australian‑designed MQ‑28 Ghost Bat entered operational service in early July 2026, flying making its first appearance in the U.S.–led a large‑scale multinational drill during Exercise Valiant Shield Shield. Operating near the Marianas Islands, the drone integrated with U.S. Air Force platforms, including F‑35As and then being highlighted at E‑3 AWACS, to test human‑machine teaming tactics. At the Farnborough International Airshow. Airshow, Boeing emphasized showcased the drone’s low‑cost, Mach 0.9 performance, 3,700 km range and modular payloads, noting it Ghost Bat as the most mature model in the emerging “collaborative combat aircraft” market. By late July the program had logged over 100 test flights The drone features a Mach 0.9 top speed, a 3,700 km range, and a live‑fire event in December 2025, where an modular architecture capable of carrying up to 900 kg of payload or two AIM‑120 AMRAAM was launched and an aerial target destroyed using a distributed‑engagement set‑up with an E‑7A Wedgetail and an F/A‑18F Super Hornet. The U.S. Air Force projects missiles. Boeing highlighted that the unit costs at cost is projected to be roughly one‑third of a manned F‑35 and aims F‑35. International partnerships are expanding to field more than 150 autonomous combat jets by the end of the decade, with analysts expecting widespread adoption only after support the mid‑2030s. program. German sensor firm Hensoldt signed an MOU to provide avionics and mission‑system integration for up integration, while Rheinmetall will act as a system integrator to 400 incorporate sovereign German sensors and weapons. This collaboration aims to establish advanced unmanned capabilities for the Luftwaffe drones from by 2029. Boeing also announced new partners: Other partners include Italy’s Leonardo will supply Leonardo, providing an infrared search‑and‑track system system, and Eaton will develop a Eaton, developing specialized ejector for internal payloads. A three‑year Australian contract worth A$ 754 million secures seven Ghost Bats for payload ejectors. While the RAAF. U.S. Air Force aims to field more than 150 autonomous jets by the end of the decade, analysts expect widespread adoption only after the mid‑2030s. Competition is intensifying, remains intense as General Atomics, Anduril’s FURY system, Airbus Anduril, and other European programmes Airbus accelerate their own autonomous‑drone projects, turning the sector into autonomous-drone projects in a multi‑billion‑dollar race.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-10 10:02 UTC Boeing Ghost Bat drone program
  2. 2026-07-25 20:06 UTC Boeing Ghost Bat drone program

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