Australia Announces $1B+ Funding for Ghost Bat Program

The Australian government is set to announce more than $1 billion in funding to advance its MQ-28A Ghost Bat program, marking the transition of the nation's first homegrown combat aircraft in over 50 years from prototype to operational production. The commitment, to be revealed during annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations in Washington on Tuesday, includes contracts with Boeing Defence Australia for an initial six Block 2 aircraft, enhancing the Royal Australian Air Force's collaborative air combat capabilities.

Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will join their U.S. counterparts for the talks, where the funding push underscores Australia's focus on autonomous technologies amid evolving global security challenges. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a Ghost Bat successfully fired an air-to-air missile at an aerial target during undisclosed exercises on Monday, a key milestone paving the way for the aircraft's frontline readiness.

Developed jointly by the Royal Australian Air Force and Boeing Australia since 2019, the Ghost Bat is an unmanned, jet-powered drone designed as a "loyal wingman" to...