Boeing and Royal Australian Air Force Successfully Test E-7A Wedgetail Controlling MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drones
A single operator aboard an E-7A directed two MQ-28s and a digital aircraft in a major step toward future air combat interoperability.
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have completed a landmark demonstration in which a single operator aboard an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft controlled two unmanned MQ-28 Ghost Bat combat drones and a third digital aircraft during a simulated mission against an aerial target. The test, conducted at the vast Woomera Range Complex, validated a key interoperability requirement for the future of air combat.
The timing of the demonstration is notable, as it comes amid uncertainty surrounding the E-7 Wedgetail program following the U.S. government's recent decision to scale back its investment in the aircraft, shifting focus toward satellite surveillance and tactical platforms such as the Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
During the operation, the MQ-28s acted as forward escorts, simulating the role of protecting high-value manned assets—one of the core capabilities envisioned for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) concept. The exercise confirms the viability of integrating unmanned platforms into a command-and-control network operated from a surveillance aircraft like the E-7A.
Glen Ferguson, Director of MQ-28 Global Programs, explained that "this trial demonstrates the integration of our system-of-systems approach, the strength of our open systems architecture, and is a critical first step in integrating mission partner software and communications systems natively into the E-7A Wedgetail." He added that the test not only validated a key operational concept of the MQ-28 but also highlighted how collaborative combat aircraft can extend and enhance the E-7A's role in meeting future force requirements.
• What is the MQ-28 Ghost Bat?
It’s an unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) developed by Boeing Australia, designed to fly alongside crewed aircraft and provide surveillance, protection, and strike capabilities.• How does it work with the E-7A Wedgetail?
The E-7A, an airborne command and control platform, uses its advanced systems to direct the MQ-28s, assigning them tasks as extensions of its own sensors and operational capabilities.• Why is this test important?
It proves the feasibility of the "manned-unmanned teaming" concept, enabling a small crew to control multiple unmanned platforms and effectively dominate a broader, more complex battlespace with increased safety.
Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, acknowledged the milestone, stating that "the Ghost Bat has the potential to transform a single fighter jet into a combat team, with advanced sensors that act like hundreds of eyes in the sky."
The achievement stems from joint software development by Boeing Defence Australia, Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group, and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), underscoring the program's collaborative nature.
The test is part of a broader series of events scheduled for this year under the Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25) initiative. CD25 aims to showcase the MQ-28’s operational effectiveness and how collaborative combat aircraft will integrate with other crewed platforms in the RAAF. Upcoming trials will include teaming with F/A-18F Super Hornets and F-35A Lightning II fighters, Boeing confirmed in an official statement.
AUTOR
Desde 2017, haciendo periodismo aeronáutico. Award-Winning Journalist: Ganador de la edición 2023 de "Periodismo de Altura", otorgado por ALTA. Facts don't care about your feelings.
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