Avalon 2025: Australia reimagines Ghost Bat as a proving platform and targets future versions
The RAAF envisions following iterations of UAVs being descendants of MQ-28A Ghost Bat. (Photo: Boeing Defence Australia)
Now known as the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, the Loyal Wingman notably kept close to promised deadlines such as first flight in February 2021, in spite of originally being promised for 2020.
Boeing Defence Australia unveiled what was then referred to as the Loyal Wingman large stealthy uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Australian International Airshow in Avalon near Melbourne six years ago. It occurred amid much fanfare and the trumpeting that it would be the first Australian designed military aircraft in more than six decades.
The original idea outlined for the UAV was as a multirole platform which could conceivably act as an escort or attack aircraft and while the US side of Boeing continues to look at it in this role, on the opposite side of the Pacific it is
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Air Warfare
-
![British Army to explore CUAS options to combat Class 1 drones]()
British Army to explore CUAS options to combat Class 1 drones
Named Project Vanaheim, the joint project will be run by the British and US armies and is the ‘first wave’ in a substantial programme of work to update both armed forces’ CUAS capabilities.
-
![Avalon 2025: Australia set to receive Apaches as Tiger retirement begins]()
Avalon 2025: Australia set to receive Apaches as Tiger retirement begins
After giving European Tiger attack helicopters and NH90 large utility helicopters a chance to meet Australian needs, which encountered problems, the country has turned back to the US for Apaches and Black Hawks, respectively.
-
![Baykar's Kemankes 1 missile completes maximum flight and dive test]()
Baykar's Kemankes 1 missile completes maximum flight and dive test
This is the latest test in the ongoing schedule for the loitering munition from Baykar – the first of two different AI-powered variants.
