Australia Prepares Next Batch Of Ghost Bat Buddy Drones To Expand Loyal Wingman Fleet

KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE

Australia Prepares Next Batch Of Ghost Bat Buddy Drones

Australia is preparing to produce the next batch of Ghost Bat buddy drones as it expands the Royal Australian Air Force autonomous combat air teaming capability, according to a report by Defense News.

The move signals Canberra’s continued commitment to integrating the MQ-28 Ghost Bat into frontline air operations alongside crewed fighter aircraft.

Developed by Boeing in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force, the aircraft is designed to operate as a loyal wingman, flying ahead of or alongside crewed platforms to conduct surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike support missions.

Expanding The Loyal Wingman Concept

The Ghost Bat buddy drones program represents one of Australia’s most significant indigenous aerospace developments in decades.

Originally launched as the Airpower Teaming System, the MQ-28 was later named Ghost Bat. It is the first combat aircraft designed and built in Australia in more than 50 years.

According to reporting by Defense News, Australian officials are preparing for a follow-on production run as flight testing and capability demonstrations mature. The next batch is expected to build on lessons learned from earlier prototypes.

The aircraft features a modular nose section that allows operators to swap mission payloads. That flexibility supports roles such as intelligence gathering, electronic attack, and acting as a sensor node within a broader networked force.

Integration With Crewed Fighters

The central concept behind the Ghost Bat buddy drones is manned-unmanned teaming.

In this model, the drone flies in coordination with aircraft such as the F-35A Lightning II and the F/A-18F Super Hornet operated by the Royal Australian Air Force.

The unmanned platform can push forward into contested airspace, gather data, jam adversary radars, or carry weapons, reducing risk to pilots. Command and control systems allow the crewed aircraft to task the drone while maintaining operational flexibility.

Australian defense officials have emphasized that autonomy is central to the design. The aircraft is built to make certain mission decisions independently, while remaining under human supervision.

Industrial And Strategic Implications

The production expansion of Ghost Bat buddy drones also has industrial significance.

Boeing Australia has led development efforts, drawing on local suppliers and engineering teams. The program supports Australia’s broader defense industrial strategy, which aims to build sovereign capabilities in advanced manufacturing and aerospace systems.

Strategically, the platform aligns with Australia’s focus on high-end deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. Autonomous systems offer the ability to scale combat mass without a proportional increase in personnel or cost.

The aircraft’s relatively long range and low-observable design are intended to support operations in contested environments. While specific performance details remain limited, officials have described the system as capable of operating at tactically relevant distances in support of joint missions.

Positioning Australia In The Autonomous Air Domain

Globally, several air forces are investing in collaborative combat aircraft and loyal wingman concepts. The United States Air Force, for example, is advancing its Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative.

Australia’s early adoption of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat places it among a small group of nations fielding operational prototypes of autonomous combat aircraft.

As Canberra prepares the next production batch, the focus will likely shift toward refining operational concepts, expanding testing, and integrating the system more deeply into the Royal Australian Air Force force structure.

For now, the continued investment underscores Australia’s intent to remain at the forefront of autonomous airpower development.