Royal Australian Air Force Tests Advanced Unmanned Combat Aircraft

Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) conducted the first live air-to-air missile firing by an MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft on December 9, 2025. The test saw the MQ-28 destroy a fighter-sized aerial target using a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missile during an operationally representative mission. According to Boeing, sensor and targeting data were shared across platforms before the engagement. This follows reported acquisition plans for six air vehicles, although these decisions were never officially confirmed. The successful integration of the AMRAAM missile suggests that the MQ-28 is advancing towards operational capability.