BOEING

Australian pilot becomes first pilot to operate Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has trained its first pilot to operate the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).

Wing Commander Phil Parsons, a senior RAAF officer, has become the first non-Boeing pilot to participate in the MQ-28A flight test program. Parsons, who completed his training on June 13, 2024, has been appointed to oversee the launch and recovery of the MQ-28A and monitor the aircraft in flight. In addition, he will manage the aircraft during takeoff and landing. Parsons previously commanded Task Force Heron, a contingent of the Australian Defence Force. In 2014, Parsons received an award for completing 25,000 hours of flight time with unmanned aerial vehicles in Afghanistan. The Ghost Bat would be deployed alongside manned aircraft, such as an E-7A, F-35A or F/A-18F, with the crew assigning it missions such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. 

This integration into the air formation of manned aircraft embodies the concept of the Local Wingman. In other words, the “Loyal Wingman” concept refers to an autonomous drone designed to fly alongside manned aircraft, particularly fighters, to support them during missions. These autonomous drones use artificial intelligence to perform complex tasks such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare or even air strikes, all under the supervision of the lead aircraft. 

Their role is to relieve human pilots of dangerous or repetitive tasks, enhance the combat capabilities of the formation and potentially serve as shields or decoys to protect manned aircraft. This concept is part of ongoing efforts to integrate advanced autonomous technologies into modern air forces, improving operational efficiency and reducing risks to human pilots. The Ghost Bat is an unmanned military aerial vehicle equipped with autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. Developed by Boeing Australia in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the Ghost Bat made its first test flight in February 2021, a significant milestone in the integration of autonomy into modern air forces. Despite these advances, the project faced design challenges, particularly in ensuring secure communication between the drone and the piloted aircraft, as well as managing autonomy in complex environments. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat continues to be manufactured at Boeing’s Fishermans Bend facility in Victoria, Australia, according to the company’s website.

by Vivaero