Boeing MQ-28 Flies 3 US Missions as Germany Eyes 2029 Ghost Bat Deal
Updated
Updated · autonocion.com · Jun 9
Boeing MQ-28 Flies 3 US Missions as Germany Eyes 2029 Ghost Bat Deal
3 articles · Updated · autonocion.com · Jun 9
Summary
Three operational flights at California’s Point Mugu marked the MQ-28 Ghost Bat’s first missions outside Australia, a step Boeing used to showcase rapid deployment and export readiness.
The push gained weight after the drone’s December 2025 live-fire test, when an MQ-28 launched an AIM-120 AMRAAM and destroyed a target drone in a networked mission with an F/A-18F and E-7A.
Germany moved closest to a foreign order on March 31, when Rheinmetall partnered with Boeing Defence Australia to offer the Ghost Bat to the Luftwaffe for a 2029 in-service target.
Australia has committed about A$2.4 billion to the program, with 18 aircraft planned; Boeing says the drone could cost roughly one-tenth of a crewed fighter, or about $10 million-$15 million each.
Block 3, due to enter production in 2028, adds internal weapons bays and more fuel, positioning the Ghost Bat as one of the most mature allied collaborative combat aircraft now being marketed in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Can Australia's cheaper Ghost Bat outmaneuver America's own multi-billion dollar combat drone program?
Has Australia's AI-piloted drone just launched a new, more autonomous era of aerial warfare?
MQ-28 Ghost Bat Surpasses 150 Test Flights: Australia’s Autonomous Combat Aircraft Eyes German and European Integration
Overview
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat program has rapidly accelerated, reaching global recognition through a series of significant milestones. Its growing relevance in collaborative combat aircraft technology was underscored by the unveiling of the advanced Block 3 version at ILA Berlin 2026. This third iteration marks a major evolution, as Boeing and Rheinmetall actively offer it to Germany, highlighting the rapid maturation of the collaborative combat aircraft market. These developments firmly position the Ghost Bat as a leading autonomous tactical jet on the world stage, reflecting its swift progress and strategic importance in modern airpower.