The aircraft is the first combat aircraft designed and developed in Australia in over half a century. In February 2019, Boeing said that it will "depend on the market" whether the aircraft is manufactured in
Australia or the US. While earthworks begin, Wagner Corporation is continuing to work with Boeing Australia to finalise the production facility design and architectural features. This facility had initially been announced on 21 September 2021 by the Queensland Premier to support construction of the Ghost Bat. In the official naming ceremony held at RAAF Base Amberley on 21 March 2022, it was announced the Loyal Wingman will be named the MQ-28A Ghost Bat in RAAF service, named after an Australian bat found in northern parts of the Australian continent. The
ghost bat is an Australian native mammal known for teaming together in a pack to detect and hunt, which reflects the unique characteristics of the aircraft's sensors and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance abilities. The RAAF initially planned to buy three Airpower Teaming System (ATS) systems, as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program (LWADP). These three drones were built at an automated production line in
Melbourne, Victoria. The order was increased to six with an A$115 million contract days after the first flight. As of 9 May 2023, the Australian government confirmed its commitment to funding 10 aircraft for the RAAF, not including three prototypes that will not be owned by the government or operated by the RAAF. This takes the government's total investment in the Loyal Wingman program to over A$600 million. The uncrewed platforms are scheduled to enter service with the RAAF in 2024-25. In February 2024, the Australian Government announced a further A$400 million in funding for three more aircraft, built to the new "Block 2" standard. The announced improvements included developments to the wing, GPS, sensors, mission payloads, integrated combat system and the autonomous systems.
Testing and other possible uses After a full-scale mock-up was revealed at the 2019 Avalon Airshow. The first prototype aircraft achieved a power-on of its systems in March 2020, and was rolled out in May 2020 by Boeing Australia with the release of images showing a detailed prototype of the aircraft and a video to illustrate the drone's operational abilities. In May 2022, Australian Prime Minister
Scott Morrison reflected "This is a truly historic moment for our country and for Australian defence innovation. The Loyal Wingman will be pivotal to exploring the critical capabilities our Air Force needs to protect our nation and its allies into the future." Boeing announced it powered up the engine of its first Airpower Teaming System (ATS) uncrewed aircraft for the first time in September 2020. The engine test was part of ground testing to prepare for its first flight before the end of 2020. The Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS) prototype moved under its own power for the first time in October 2020, conducting low-speed taxi tests at
RAAF Base Amberley. The Boeing Airpower Teaming System later performed a high-speed taxi test at an unnamed remote location in December 2020. The first test flight of the prototype occurred at
RAAF Base Woomera on 27 February 2021. Two more test flights occurred at
RAAF Woomera Range Complex in early November 2021 In August 2022, it was revealed by
United States Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall that preliminary discussions were being held about purchasing the MQ-28 for US service. The 2023 Defence budget revealed that a
Combat Collaborative Aircraft Project Arrangement for greater collaboration on the MQ-28 had been signed with the US in line with the recommendations made in the Defence Strategic Review. On 13 June 2024, the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) remote systems pilot WGCDR (Wing Commander) Phil Parsons completed Boeing's training, becoming the first non-Boeing pilot on the program. The first USN MQ-28 “pilot” was graduated in 2024 as well. As of October 2024, eight prototype Block 1 vehicles have been built with more than 100 hours of flight testing. In September 2025, it was confirmed the program was ahead of schedule, and the government was expecting foreign orders.
Live fire testing On 8 December 2025, the MQ-28A's first live firing occurred when an
AIM-120 AMRAAM missile destroyed a Phoenix target drone. The MQ-28A was acting as a loyal wingman to a RAAF
E-7 Wedgetail and to a
F/A-18F Super Hornet. The test made the MQ-28 the second
unmanned combat aerial vehicle in the world, after the
Bayraktar Kızılelma, to successfully destroy an aerial target using a
beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
Future procurement On 9 December 2025, the Australian government announced that it would invest a further approximately A$1.4 billion into the program and that it had signed contracts for a further six Block 2 operational aircraft and for the development of an enhanced Block 3 prototype.
United States Navy,
Royal Air Force,
Royal Navy and German Army (
Bundeswehr) are possible operators. Japan has also shown interest in the Ghost Bat, establishing a framework on Collaborative Combat Aircraft activities in April 2026. ==Design==