Australia to deploy six locally made war-fighting drones
At least six locally produced “Ghost Bat” aircraft will be added to the Defense Force arsenal in a $1 billion initiative to accelerate the military’s adoption of autonomous technologies transforming modern warfare.
As Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong meet their US counterparts in Washington for annual talks on Tuesday, the Albanian government will announce that the MQ-28A Stealth Bat will move from prototype stage to become a fully functional combat vehicle.
The Ghost Bat drone successfully fired an air-to-air missile in previously undisclosed exercises on Monday, paving the way for the announcement, said sources who were not authorized to speak publicly.
The Ghost Bat is the first military fighter aircraft designed, developed and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years.
Developed by the Air Force and Boeing Australia, the Ghost Bat is packed with advanced sensors and is expected to have a range of more than 3,700 kilometers.
Operating without any personnel on board, the drones are designed to act as a faithful wingman to traditional platforms such as the Joint Strike Fighter and Super Hornet, teaming up for operations previously only carried out by crewed aircraft.
Boeing’s Ghost Bat is among many military drone projects in Australia.Credit: Department of Defense
“Ghost Bat has the potential to transform a single fighter jet into a combat team with advanced sensors that resemble hundreds of eyes in the sky,” Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in June.
The government will sign a contract with Boeing Australia for the first six Ghost Bats, with more expected to follow if the program is successful. Ghost Bats can be exported to other countries, including the United States.
