MQ-28 Ghost Bat Boeing.

Technical Data

• Design

  The MQ-28 Ghost Bat features a highly streamlined, low-observable airframe engineered to minimize radar, infrared, and visual signatures while maintaining excellent aerodynamic performance. The aircraft incorporates a blended composite fuselage with extensive use of carbon-fiber reinforced materials to reduce structural weight, increase fatigue resistance, and improve survivability in contested environments. Its aerodynamic layout consists of a high-mounted trapezoidal wing, outward-canted twin vertical stabilizers, carefully blended fuselage contours, and internal systems designed to reduce radar reflections from multiple aspects.

  One of the aircraft's defining features is its interchangeable forward payload section measuring approximately 2.6 meters (8.5 feet) in length. This modular nose assembly enables rapid replacement of mission equipment, allowing operators to configure the aircraft for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, communications relay, electronic intelligence, or future strike missions without major airframe modifications. Internal fuel tanks maximize operational endurance while preserving the aircraft's stealth profile, and a retractable tricycle landing gear permits conventional runway operations from established military airbases.

  The MQ-28 utilizes a fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system integrated with advanced autonomous mission software capable of independently planning routes, avoiding threats, coordinating with multiple aircraft, and executing complex mission profiles with limited operator intervention.

• Engine and Flight Performances

  The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is powered by a single internally mounted turbofan engine installed within the rear fuselage and supplied by serpentine air intakes that conceal the engine compressor face to reduce radar reflections. Boeing has not publicly identified the engine model, although it is believed to be a commercially derived turbofan adapted for military unmanned applications. The internal engine installation also lowers the aircraft's infrared signature while improving aerodynamic efficiency and contributing to its low-observable characteristics.

  The propulsion system provides sufficient thrust for sustained high-subsonic flight, enabling the aircraft to accompany modern fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft during long-range operations. With an operational range of approximately 3,700 km (2,300 mi), the MQ-28 is capable of conducting extended reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and combat support missions far beyond the forward edge of the battlefield. Internal fuel tanks are integrated within the composite airframe to maximize endurance while preserving the aircraft's stealth profile.

  Flight operations are controlled through a fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system integrated with advanced autonomous mission management software. The aircraft is capable of fully autonomous taxiing, takeoff, navigation, formation flying, mission execution, and landing, requiring only supervisory input from a human operator when mission parameters demand. Artificial intelligence algorithms continuously optimize flight paths, manage fuel consumption, monitor aircraft health, and coordinate maneuvers with crewed aircraft or other autonomous systems operating within the same tactical network.

  The MQ-28 is designed to perform cooperative loyal wingman operations, maintaining formation with aircraft such as the F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, E-7A Wedgetail, and future Collaborative Combat Aircraft platforms. Secure encrypted datalinks enable real-time exchange of targeting information, sensor data, and mission updates while supporting distributed operations in highly contested electromagnetic environments. Autonomous software incorporates collision avoidance, threat recognition, adaptive route planning, and dynamic mission re-tasking, allowing the aircraft to continue executing mission objectives even if communications with the controlling platform are temporarily degraded or interrupted.

  Its combination of long endurance, autonomous mission execution, low-observable characteristics, and network-centric operation enables the MQ-28 to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, communications relay, decoy operations, precision strike support, and distributed sensing missions while significantly reducing operational risk to crewed aircraft.

• Armament

  The MQ-28 Ghost Bat does not currently field a publicly disclosed operational weapons configuration, and its development has primarily focused on validating autonomous flight systems, collaborative combat functions, sensor integration, electronic warfare capabilities, and modular mission architecture. However, recent testing has demonstrated significant progress toward integrating air-to-air weapons into the platform.

  In December 2025, during Trial Kareela conducted at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia, an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) was publicly carried by an MQ-28A Ghost Bat. The trial marked the first publicly disclosed demonstration of the aircraft carrying an air-to-air missile and represented a major milestone in the evolution of the Ghost Bat from a technology demonstrator toward a collaborative combat aircraft capable of supporting offensive and defensive air operations. While the trial confirmed the aircraft's ability to carry the AIM-120, Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force have not publicly announced a live missile launch or successful firing from the MQ-28.

  Rather than employing permanently installed weapons, the MQ-28 is designed around a modular internal payload architecture that enables the aircraft to be configured for a wide variety of mission profiles while preserving its low-observable characteristics. The open-architecture design allows rapid integration of mission equipment and future weapon systems without extensive structural modifications, ensuring adaptability to evolving operational requirements.

  The aircraft is expected to support future integration of both kinetic and non-kinetic payloads based on customer requirements. In addition to the demonstrated AIM-120 AMRAAM carriage capability, potential future payloads could include precision-guided air-to-surface munitions, compact air-to-air missiles, loitering munitions, electronic attack systems, and other internally or semi-recessed precision weapons, although Boeing has not publicly confirmed additional weapon types undergoing flight testing.

  Beyond kinetic payloads, the MQ-28 is compatible with a broad range of mission systems, including electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads, electronic warfare equipment, electronic support measures (ESM), signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems, communications relay packages, and advanced stand-in sensing or decoy payloads. These systems enable the aircraft to perform reconnaissance, electronic attack, target acquisition, distributed sensing, and networked battlefield support while operating collaboratively with crewed combat aircraft.

  The modular payload architecture ensures that future weapon systems and mission equipment can be incorporated through software and payload updates with minimal airframe redesign, allowing the MQ-28 to evolve alongside future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) operational concepts and emerging air combat requirements.

• Avionics and Onboard Equipment

  The MQ-28 Ghost Bat incorporates a highly integrated avionics suite centered on autonomous mission management and artificial intelligence. Its onboard computing architecture continuously processes navigation data, sensor inputs, mission objectives, and cooperative engagement instructions while enabling the aircraft to respond dynamically to rapidly changing battlefield conditions.

  Core avionics include a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, GPS and inertial navigation, encrypted multi-domain datalinks, secure communications equipment, advanced mission computers, sensor fusion software, distributed health monitoring systems, and an open mission systems architecture that simplifies future hardware and software upgrades. Artificial intelligence algorithms support autonomous navigation, mission planning, formation management, threat assessment, and cooperative decision-making during complex operations.

  The aircraft is compatible with electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), electronic warfare payloads, electronic support measures (ESM), signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems, and future multi-domain mission equipment. Advanced networking capabilities allow the MQ-28 to exchange tactical information with crewed aircraft, airborne early warning platforms, and other autonomous systems, supporting collaborative operations across highly contested operational environments.