Singapore AirshowBoeing outlines Block 3 upgrades for MQ-28 Ghost Bat at Singapore Airshow
Boeing plans to introduce significant design changes with the Block 3 version of its MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft, including internal weapons bays and a longer wingspan, according to company executives speaking to reporters at the Singapore Airshow.
During media briefings held at the event, Glen Ferguson, Boeing’s global program director for the MQ-28, said the Block 3 aircraft will be capable of carrying weapons internally, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile and the Small Diameter Bomb. The internal bays will be limited only by physical dimensions, with the aircraft’s modular design allowing different weapons to be integrated if they fit within the available space.
Ferguson explained that the same open architecture applies to sensors, with the Ghost Bat able to carry different payloads in its nose section depending on mission or customer requirements. These can include electronic warfare systems, infrared search-and-track sensors and other mission equipment. Boeing is also developing several additional sensor payloads, though details were not disclosed.
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Another key change planned for Block 3 is an increase in wingspan, from about 6 meters to 7.3 meters. The longer wings will allow the aircraft to carry more fuel, leading to a substantial increase in range. In a separate briefing, Ferguson said the design change would raise fuel capacity by roughly 30 percent while also supporting higher internal stores capacity.
Partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force
The MQ-28 is being developed in Australia in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force, which is moving toward an operational capability with the aircraft by 2028. The RAAF has ordered additional aircraft covering both Block 2 and Block 3 configurations, following earlier deliveries of Block 1 test vehicles. Block 2 represents the initial operational standard, while Block 3 is intended as the primary configuration for future export customers.
Boeing closed 2025 with a major milestone for the program after a Ghost Bat successfully launched an AIM-120 missile while operating alongside crewed aircraft, including F/A-18 fighters and an E-7 airborne early warning aircraft. Ferguson said this event demonstrated how far the system has progressed beyond the experimental phase.
Australia has invested approximately $1.4 billion in MQ-28 development to date, and Boeing expects to increase production rates once Block 3 enters manufacturing later this decade. The aircraft are powered by the Williams International FJ44-A engine, which has become widely used in collaborative combat aircraft programs.
Ferguson also confirmed that Boeing is in discussions with multiple international customers and highlighted recent cooperation agreements involving Australia and Japan. He said the aircraft’s design allows foreign operators to integrate their own sensors and weapons without the level of manufacturer involvement typical of crewed combat aircraft.
While the MQ-28 was initially developed outside U.S. export control rules, some ITAR-restricted technologies were later introduced through cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. According to Ferguson, these elements are compartmentalized and can be removed for sales to countries seeking systems free of U.S. export restrictions.
Boeing is also participating in U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force collaborative combat aircraft efforts, though Ferguson declined to comment on details related to those programs, citing their national character.
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