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MQ-28 Ghost Bat completes first US-based autonomous test flights off California

Boeing says the MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” completed three operational flights at the Point Mugu Sea Range from U.S. Naval Base Ventura County, validating autonomous operations and demonstrating rapid deployment and sustained activity from an allied location. The test marks the first flight of the Australia-built tactical jet outside Australia, with sales messaging that could extend to Pentagon customers.

Discovered 2026-05-27T19:06:33.356178-07:00 | 2026-05-27T19:06:33.356178-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The MQ-28’s shift from first flights in Australia to operational flights in U.S. airspace and range operations is a concrete maturation step for an uncrewed “loyal wingman” concept—directly tied to readiness for follow-on procurement discussions.
  • Boeing’s emphasis on demonstrating “rapid deployment and sustained operations from an allied location” signals how the program intends to fit into future distributed basing models and coalition use cases.
  • The sales angle—potential interest including Pentagon customers—connects to prior efforts to position MQ-28 for international defense bids, including the Rheinmetall–Boeing Australia teaming for Germany’s “CCA” pathway [source:e0f9f7fe-f2e9-47f6-afe8-e3ba3084810d].

Reported By

interestingengineering.com flightlineweekly.com Aero-News Aeronews APAC Defence Reporter pilootenvliegtuig.nl
Sources Tracked
44
First Seen
2026-05-27T19:06:33.356178-07:00
Latest Update
2026-06-03T06:41:42.196664-07:00
Coverage
Defense

Sources

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