Australia has marked a new milestone in the field of unmanned combat, confirming the first autonomous air-to-air engagement by the MQ-28A Ghost Bat.
The aircraft launched an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile at a Phoenix Jet drone target during an operational test conducted at the Woomera Test Range, South Australia, demonstrating the program’s maturity and bringing the system closer to full integration into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The mission, part of the ‘Trial Kareela’, was conducted in teaming with an AEW&C E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and an F/A-18F Super Hornet, illustrating a real cooperative operation between manned and unmanned platforms. According to Boeing, this is the first documented use of an AIM-120 by an autonomous platform.
Historic Step in the Australian CCA Program
The Ghost Bat is at the heart of the Australian roadmap on Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), i.e., autonomous or semi-autonomous aircrafts designed to operate in support of piloted fighters, increase operational weight, and absorb high-risk missions.
Amy List, Managing Director of Boeing Defence Australia, highlighted that the test demonstrated the operational maturity of the system, stating, ‘_This is the first time an **autonomous platform has successfully completed an engagement with AIM-120**, confirming the MQ-28 as a fully combat-capable CCA._’
According to the company, the mission validated advanced data exchange, situational awareness support, and autonomous execution capacity of the engagement chain, reducing the risk for pilots and manned assets.
Colin Miller, vice president of Phantom Works, stated that the exercise demonstrates the maturity of an open standard and government architecture-based mission autonomy system, compatible with fourth, fifth, and sixth-generation aircraft.
