Boeing plans its first overseas aircraft assembly plant
If the Loyal Wingman project gets a green light, the ATS will be manufactured at a new facility in Toowoomba, Australia. (Boeing)
Should the RAAF proceed with its Loyal Wingman programme, the unmanned aircraft will be built in Australia.
Boeing has selected Australia as the preferred location to set up a final assembly line for the Airpower Teaming System (ATS), also known as the Loyal Wingman UAV, according to a statement released on 22 September.
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have been cooperating on this project since 2013. An ATS mock-up was unveiled at the Avalon Air Show in 2019, with the project proceeding under the auspices of Air Force Minor Program DEF 6014 Phase 1.
The would-be site for establishing the assembly plant is Toowoomba in Queensland, 125km west of Brisbane. Boeing’s first such facility
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![India set to sign Rafale-M deal]()
India set to sign Rafale-M deal
New Delhi gears up to sign Navy Rafale deal as talks swirl around a potential assembly line in Nagpur.
-
![Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss]()
Lockheed Martin wants to “supercharge” F-35 after NGAD loss
The investment in technologies developed for Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft bid will now be applied to its F-35 and F-22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet.
-
![USSOCOM outlines acquisition priorities for FY2026]()
USSOCOM outlines acquisition priorities for FY2026
The service is seeking all-domain autonomous and counter-robotic solutions as well as deep sensing and assured access technologies.
-
![Why SCAF and GCAP should seek common ground]()
Why SCAF and GCAP should seek common ground
Can international industrial collaboration to develop common technologies applicable to different future aircraft programmes – like GCAP or SCAF – prevail in the face of politics?
-
![USAF evaluates potential E-7A upgrades]()
USAF evaluates potential E-7A upgrades
The US Air Force is assessing and identifying capability upgrades for the AEW&C aircraft, including the possible replacement of the E-7A’s MESA radar and electronic warfare self-protection system.
