Recently, the official website of Boeing Company in the United States announced that it has begun to build a new production factory in Queensland, Australia, to support the manufacturing of Australia's first military unmanned fighter aircraft - MQ-28 Ghost Bat "Ghost Bat".
The MQ-28 production facility will provide aerospace manufacturing capabilities, including carbon fiber composite material manufacturing, as well as advanced robotic assembly of major components, and final assembly and testing capabilities. Once completed, the center will lead the development of major advanced components for the MQ-28 project, carbon fiber composite material production, general assembly, and evaluation process.
It is reported that the MQ-28 Ghost Bat fighter jet is the first military aircraft designed and developed by Australia since World War II. The 9,000-square-meter facility in the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defense sector is expected to be operational within the next three years. The company's latest investment in Australia will also bring new aerospace skills and technologies to Queensland, such as advanced composite material manufacturing and robotic technology.
Amy List, Managing Director of Boeing Australia Defence, stated that Boeing Australia is investing to bring this innovative, unrestricted capability to market within the timeframe to support future customer needs. The MQ-28 is designed to transform air combat, offering affordable quality for Australia and its allies.
Conceptual image of the new factory
Currently, Boeing Australia is collaborating with the Queensland Government and Wagner Corporation to construct Boeing's first assembly plant outside North America. Wagner Corporation will employ sustainable construction methods to develop and manage the facility construction in its Toowoomba region and will work with Boeing to integrate renewable technology and human-centric design into it.
Regarding the MQ-28 combat drone
The Boeing MQ-28 is the company's first unmanned system designed and developed in Australia. It aims to provide transformational capabilities to global defense customers, marking the company's largest investment in a new drone project outside the United States.
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is intended to serve as a "force multiplier" for existing military aircraft such as the EA-18G Growler, F-35A, and F/A-18F Super Hornet in combat and surveillance missions. The Boeing MQ-28 will offer a disruptive advantage for allied manned and unmanned missions, primarily including the following:
1.It can provide performance like a fighter jet, with a length of 11.7 meters and a flight distance of over 3700 kilometers.
2.It integrates an onboard sensor package, supporting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and tactical early warning missions, etc.
3.It uses artificial intelligence to fly independently or support manned aircraft, while maintaining a safe distance between other planes.
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat successfully completed its maiden flight in March 2021. In February 2024, the Australian government announced an additional allocation of 399 million Australian dollars (260 million US dollars) for the ongoing development of the "Loyal Wingman" unmanned aircraft, the current phase of which focuses on delivering three MQ-28 Block 2 aircraft, equipped with new sensors and mission payloads, integrated combat systems, and autonomous functions.