iscover
The first RAAF member has taken control of Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat in a landmark moment for the program.
Wing Commander Phil Parsons, the first non-Boeing pilot to take part in the testing, executed commands such as making the aircraft climb, descend, accelerate, and decelerate.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The aircraft, unveiled to the world in May 2020, is the first military aircraft designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia in over 50 years.
It uses AI to help both crewed and uncrewed aircraft in mid-air, hence its previous Australian project name, Loyal Wingman.
WGCDR Parsons completed Boeing’s training on 13 June, following a career as a remote systems pilot over the past decade.
As a launch and recovery operator, WGCDR Parsons would oversee the launch and recovery of the aircraft, which involves ground preparation, take-off and landing operations.
Glen Ferguson, Boeing Defence Australia MQ-28 program director, detailed the importance of the training program, saying, “On completion of the mission, the aircraft would be handed back to the launch and recovery operator to oversee landing, deceleration, and complete stop of the vehicle.”
Boeing’s MQ-28A co-development program with the RAAF is accelerating, with the focus shifting from testing the aircraft’s flying and handling qualities to capability advancement, including progressing teaming behaviours, mission systems, sensors and payload testing.
“The MQ-28A, while similar in many aspects of operation to other remotely piloted systems, is embracing technological advancements in how a launch and recovery operator interacts with the aircraft,” WGCDR Parsons said.
The Ghost Bat is set to cost more than $800 million, with the government announcing an extra $400 million investment into the project in February.
Defence said at the time that the additional funding would secure more than 350 jobs, with Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy extolling the program’s merits.
Additionally, March saw the beginning of construction on a new $550 million Boeing facility at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to build the Ghost Bat.
Once complete, the 9,000-square-metre facility at Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct will include manufacturing capabilities such as carbon fibre composites manufacture and advanced robotic assembly for major components.
