Exclusive: Australian MQ-28A unmanned combat aircraft completes test for teaming with manned fighter jets.

Exercise Carlsbad, held in April 2025 at RAAF Base Tindal in Australia's Northern Territory, marked a major advancement in the Royal Australian Air Force’s testing of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat. This deployment was the first time the aircraft operated outside the Woomera Range Complex, validating its ability to perform in an unfamiliar and operationally realistic setting. The Ghost Bat was transported directly from the Australian International Air Show to Tindal aboard a C-17A Globemaster III, with the first test flight successfully completed just seven days after arrival. This rapid setup underscored the program's growing maturity and the aircraft’s readiness for operational environments. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link ...

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Successful completion of Exercise Carlsbad at RAAF Base Tindal in April 2025 marks a key milestone in advancing the MQ-28A capability, developed jointly by Boeing Defence Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force as part of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. (Picture source: Australia MoD)
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