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Australia Poised To Sign A$1 Billion Deal With Boeing For Six MQ-28A ‘Ghost Bat’ Combat Drones

10:50 PM, 12/08/2025
Australia Poised To Sign A$1 Billion Deal With Boeing For Six MQ-28A ‘Ghost Bat’ Combat Drones

Australia is expected to sign a A$1 billion contract with Boeing Australia to put the MQ-28A Ghost Bat into production and purchase six initial collaborative combat drones. The Ghost Bat — the first military aircraft designed in Australia in more than 50 years — is built to operate alongside crewed aircraft and has a range of over 3,700 km. The move coincides with high-level talks in Washington and follows Canberra’s A$1.7 billion investment in autonomous undersea "Ghost Shark" vehicles as part of a broader push to integrate autonomous technology across its defence forces.

Australia is poised to sign a A$1 billion (about US$663.3 million) contract with Boeing Australia to move the MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” drone into production and buy an initial six collaborative combat aircraft, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The developmental MQ-28A, designed by Boeing Australia, is the first military aircraft designed in Australia in more than 50 years. Engineered to operate as a loyal wingman alongside crewed air platforms, the Ghost Bat is expected to have a range exceeding 3,700 kilometres and support a variety of force-multiplying roles.

Strategic Context

The planned announcement comes as Australian and U.S. defence and foreign ministers meet in Washington, where the U.S. has urged its Indo‑Pacific ally to increase defence spending. Canberra’s investment in autonomous systems signals a broader push to modernise its defence posture amid regional security concerns.

Related Programs

In October, Australia said it would invest A$1.7 billion (around US$1.1 billion) in a fleet of “Ghost Shark” autonomous undersea vehicles developed by the Australian Defence Force in partnership with U.S. startup Anduril Industries. Australian defence planners say they intend to integrate autonomous technologies to protect a vast coastline and as much as 3 million square kilometres (1.2 million square miles) of northern ocean.

Currency note: ($1 = 1.5076 Australian dollars)

Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama.

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