MQ-28 Ghost Bat: Armament and Australian Orders
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is <a href="/companies/boeing/">Boeing</a> Australia's uncrewed loyal wingman aircraft developed for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and it is armed. A live-fire test in December 2025 engaged a target drone with an AIM-120 missile. Australia has ordered nine Block 2 aircraft, and the program is separate from the US Air Force CCA effort.
What the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Is
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an uncrewed wingman aircraft built by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). As an uncrewed wingman it is meant to fly with crewed aircraft; the sources for this page do not name which ones.
The Ghost Bat is an Australian program, separate from the US Air Force CCA effort. The sources for this page publish no speed, range or payload figures beyond the Block 3 weapons bay and wing changes described below.
Armament Capabilities and Internal Weapons Carriage
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat can carry weapons, and one has fired a live missile in a test. A report published by Yahoo News says a live-fire test in December 2025 engaged a target drone with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
Block 1 and Block 2 can carry weapons externally. An external AMRAAM pylon was demonstrated.
The Block 3 variant adds an internal weapons bay. According to the Yahoo News report, the Block 3 bay accommodates one AIM-120 AMRAAM, two GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), or two GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide bombs.
Development Blocks and Procurement Orders
The Ghost Bat comes in three block standards. Australia has eight pre-production Block 1 aircraft.
Australia ordered three Block 2 aircraft earlier and six more in a late-2025 contract, nine in total. The report gives 2028 for Block 2 service introduction.
Block 3 has a larger wing. Its wingspan is 24 ft (7.3 m), up from the 20 ft (6 m) wingspan used on Block 1 and Block 2 airframes. The Block 3 wing adds about 30% fuel capacity, and the report gives 2028 for Block 3 initial production.
The US Pentagon has at least one MQ-28 for testing, and a US Navy test squadron deployed to Australia.
Japan has discussed collaboration on the Ghost Bat, and the report describes planned Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) participation in 2026 flight tests.
| Variant | Wingspan | Weapons Carriage | Fuel Capacity and Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 1 | 20 ft (6 m) | External weapons capable | 8 pre-production aircraft (Australia) |
| Block 2 | 20 ft (6 m) | External weapons capable | 9 ordered by Australia (3 earlier, 6 in late 2025); service introduction 2028 |
| Block 3 | 24 ft (7.3 m) | Internal bay: 1 AMRAAM, 2 SDB, or 2 StormBreaker | Adds about 30% fuel capacity; initial production planned for 2028 |
Where the Ghost Bat Is Built and What Boeing Says It Is For
Defence Connect reports that Boeing Australia builds the MQ-28 at Fishermans Bend in Victoria. As of October 2024, Boeing had produced eight MQ-28A prototype aircraft. At that same date, three Royal Australian Air Force Block 2 aircraft were also in production at the Victoria plant.
Defence Connect reported that as of October 2024, the aircraft had completed more than 100 hours of flight testing and 20,000 hours in a digital environment. Defence Connect did not state program contract value, detailed technical specifications, specific Block 2 differences, or expected delivery dates as of October 2024.
As of October 2024, Defence Connect names intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and potential strike capability as the intended roles for the uncrewed teaming aircraft. Boeing describes the Ghost Bat as a force multiplier giving the Royal Australian Air Force "affordable mass and flexibility". That report gives no technical specifications or delivery dates.
Unpublished Range and Unit Cost
The Yahoo News report gives no range figure, unit price or total program cost for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat. It says only that the Block 3 wing adds about 30% fuel capacity over Block 1 and 2.
Because the report gives no unit price, any per-aircraft figure for the Ghost Bat would be an unsourced estimate, and this page gives none.
For price context across other programs, see our military drone cost page.
Operational Differences Between Ghost Bat and US CCA
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat remains a separate procurement program from the United States Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) development contract. The Ghost Bat's customer is the RAAF, while the US Air Force buys its own aircraft under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
For the US aircraft, see our Vectis vs FQ-42A vs FQ-44A comparison.
What the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Means for Boeing
The Ghost Bat is Boeing Australia's uncrewed wingman for the RAAF. The sources for this page give no Boeing financials for the program, no unit price and no total program cost.
The Ghost Bat is not for buyers who need a fielded, priced system now: Block 2 service introduction is 2028 and no unit price is published. Our view would change if the report's order counts grow or a customer beyond Australia places an order.
See the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat offering page and the US military drones guide.
Drones and UAS FAQs
How much does a Ghost Bat drone cost?
The Yahoo News report used for this page gives no unit price or total program cost for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, so this page states none. See the Boeing profile for the program.
Will the Ghost Bat be armed?
Yes, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is designed for combat armament. In December 2025, an MQ-28 live-fire test engaged a target drone using an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Block 1 and Block 2 can carry weapons externally, and an external AMRAAM pylon was demonstrated. Block 3 has an internal weapons bay reported to hold one AIM-120 AMRAAM, two GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, or two GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide bombs.
Is the Ghost Bat drone any good?
The record so far is a December 2025 AIM-120 live-fire test that engaged a target drone. Australia has ordered nine Block 2 aircraft, and the US Pentagon has at least one MQ-28 for testing. Japan has discussed collaboration and planned JASDF participation in 2026 flight tests. Range, unit price and performance figures are not published, so the sources cannot say how it compares on numbers. As of October 2024, Defence Connect reported more than 100 hours of flight testing.
What is the range of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat?
The exact flight range and combat radius of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat are not published in the report used for this page. That report says the Block 3 airframe has a 24 ft (7.3 m) wingspan, up from 20 ft (6 m), and about 30% more fuel capacity. It gives no range figure.
Is the MQ-28 Ghost Bat part of the US CCA program?
No, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a separate program built by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force. The US Pentagon has at least one MQ-28 for testing, and a US Navy test squadron deployed to Australia. The program remains separate from the US Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft development contracts.