E-7A Wedgetail Operator Directs Two Australian Ghost Bat Autonomous Aircraft in Coordinated Flight Test

A single E-7A Wedgetail operator recently controlled two MQ-28A Ghost Bat autonomous aircraft in a simulated mission against an airborne target at Woomera.

This marks the first time Australia has tested dual uncrewed combat aircraft under the control of a single operator in-flight.

The MQ-28A Ghost Bat, developed in partnership with Boeing Defence Australia, is the first military combat aircraft designed and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years.

“The Ghost Bat has the potential to turn a single fighter jet into a fighting team, with advanced sensors that are like hundreds of eyes in the sky,” said Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.

The coordinated flight test aligns with Australia’s 2024 National Defence Strategy, which highlights uncrewed and autonomous systems as a major priority. The Albanese Government has committed over $10 billion to drone-related capabilities, including at least $4.3 billion toward uncrewed aerial systems.

Of this, $1 billion is dedicated to the MQ-28A program.

The Ghost Bat is part of the emerging class of collaborative combat aircraft—uncrewed platforms designed to team with piloted systems, perform tactical missions, and enhance the overall survivability and lethality of the integrated force.

“Autonomous collaborative platforms enhance the integrated force’s ability to deliver a strategy of denial, by increasing the lethality and survivability with a reduced risk to our forces,” added Conroy.