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In a surprise change of plans, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat drone will not carry weapons, instead being shifted to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles.
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A government source this week confirmed to The Australian that plans to make the Ghost Bat a “killer drone” had been shelved after manufacturer Boeing lost out on a US program to make autonomous combat jets.
According to the source cited in The Australian, pivoting the Ghost Bat to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) will provide fewer hurdles for Defence, as it would not require “rules of engagement” for its weapons and will offer important military capabilities.
The aircraft, first unveiled to the world in May 2020, is the first military aircraft designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years. It uses AI to help both crewed and uncrewed aircraft in mid-air, hence its previous Australian project name, Loyal Wingman.
A spokesperson for Boeing Australia told the newspaper it would keep working on the Ghost Bat and the MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueller drone, and that Boeing is “undeterred in our commitment to providing next-generation autonomous combat aircraft for US and global military customers”.
“The modular and open design of MQ-28 (Ghost Bat) enables it to supplement a broad range of ADF missions and we are currently working to develop an operational capability in a number of these areas, aligned with the National Defence Strategy,” the spokesperson said.
The Ghost Bat is set to cost more than $800 million, with the government in February announcing an extra $400 million investment into the project.
Defence said at the time that the additional funding would secure more than 350 jobs, with Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy extolling the program’s merits.
“More than 200 Australian companies have already contributed to the MQ-28A program, including more than 50 small and medium enterprises within the supply chain,” he said.
“This project demonstrates that with the appropriate support from government, Australia’s defence industry can continue to be a world leader and a key source of jobs.”
Additionally, March saw the beginning of construction on a new $550 million Boeing facility at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to construct the Ghost Bat.
Once complete, the 9,000-square-metre facility at Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct will include manufacturing capabilities such as carbon fibre composites manufacture and advanced robotic assembly for major components.
