RAAF and Boeing test two MQ-28 drones controlled by an E-7A Wedgetail
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) successfully carried out a mission involving two in-flight MQ-28 Ghost Bat aircraft and one digital aircraft, all remotely controlled from a manned E-7A Wedgetail AEW aircraft.
A single operator aboard the E-7A took control of the uncrewed Ghost Bats, simulating their future role of flying ahead of and protecting crewed assets during missions.
“This trial demonstrates family-of-systems integration, the strength of our open systems architecture, and is a critical first step toward natively integrating mission partners’ software and communications systems into the E-7A Wedgetail,” said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Program Director.
Ferguson noted that the demonstration validated a key part of the MQ-28 concept of operations and showed how collaborative combat aircraft can extend the Wedgetail’s role to meet future force needs.
The software used in the test was jointly developed by Boeing Defence Australia, Defence Science and Technology Group, and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
“It has been an exceptional collaborative effort across government, contractors, and global partners,” said Adam Tsacoumangos, Director of Air Dominance Programs at Boeing Phantom Works.
The trial was part of a broader campaign called Capability Demonstration 2025 (CD25) — a series of operations to showcase the MQ-28’s effectiveness in teaming with crewed RAAF platforms. Future events will include integration with F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35 Lightning II fighters.
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