U.S. ally Australia has not built a combat aircraft in more than 50 years, but that is about to change. 

Aerospace and defense giant Boeing announced it is building a facility that will produce its MQ-28 "Ghost Bat" in the land down under. The state-of-the-art 9,000 square-meter facility will be located in Toowoomba, Queensland.

The Queensland facility in the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct will bring new aerospace skill sets and technologies to the region, including composites manufacturing, robotics, testing, and assembly capabilities.

"Boeing Australia is investing to bring this innovative, uncrewed capability to market in the timeframe that supports our customers’ future needs," explained Amy List, managing director of Boeing Defence Australia. "The MQ-28 is designed to transform air combat and provide affordable mass for Australia and our allies. We're partnering with the Queensland Government and Wagner Corp. to build Boeing's first final assembly facility outside of North America ­ which is indicative of our global focus and a continued commitment to a sustainable and robust Australian aerospace industry."

Australia recently allocated A$616 million ($400 million) to the MQ-28 Ghost Bat program, securing hundreds of skilled jobs.

It will be one of the most modern aviation production centers in Australia, providing advanced aerospace manufacturing capabilities including carbon fiber composites manufacture; advanced robotic assembly for major components; and final assembly and test capabilities.

The Ghost Bat With the Most

The Boeing MQ-28 is an uncrewed aircraft that employs artificial intelligence to serve as a force multiplier. It was designed to work as a smart team with existing military aircraft to complement and extend airborne missions – acting as a loyal wingman for manned aircraft like the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter or the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber.

The Ghost Bat could also be part of the system of systems that makes up the U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program.

The 38-foot-long MQ-28 unmanned combat air vehicle has been in development for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) since 2019, and it is considered a foundation of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System. The unmanned aircraft took its maiden flight in 2021.

It was named for a species of Australian bat known to prey on large vertebrates.

"A ghost bat is an Australian hunter that uses sophisticated multispectral sensors to detect, hunt, and kill prey both in the air and on the ground," RAAF Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney said in 2022. "They team together in large numbers to confuse and overwhelm their adversaries and are native to Australia."

Though unmanned, the aircraft reportedly provides fighter-like performance. Its integrated sensor packages can support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as tactical early warning missions and more. 

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat has a range of 2,000 nautical miles and can be outfitted with a variety of payloads, while it can carry weapons to help protect crew fighter jets.

It could be a trusted and deadly loyal wingman – and more importantly, one that won't be afraid to sacrifice itself to accomplish the mission and to ensure the manned fighter stands the best chance of getting home safely. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

Image Credit: Boeing.