Boeing Australia is about to begin construction of the facility that will manufacture the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, the «Loyal Wingman» type unmanned combat aircraft.

Boeing’s new production plant will be built in Toowoomba, Queensland. It will manufacture Australia’s first military combat aircraft designed and developed in more than 50 years.

The 9,000-square-meter facility, located in the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct, is expected to be operational within the next three years. The company’s latest investment in Australia will bring new aerospace expertise and technologies, such as advanced composite manufacturing and robotics, to Queensland.

“Boeing Australia is investing to bring this innovative, uncrewed capability to market in the timeframe that supports our customers’ future needs,” said Amy List, managing director, Boeing Defence Australia. “The MQ-28 is designed to transform air combat and provide affordable mass for Australia and our allies.”

Wagner Corporation will develop and manage the construction of the facility at its Toowoomba site using sustainable construction methods, and will work with Boeing to incorporate renewable technologies and human-centered design.

The MQ-28 production facility will include aerospace manufacturing capabilities, including carbon fiber composite manufacturing, along with advanced robotic assembly of major components and final assembly and test capabilities.

See also: U.S. Japan and Australia join forces to develop future generation of unmanned aircraft

MQ-28 “Ghost Bat”

The MQ-28 «Ghost Bat» emerged in 2017 from the Loyal Wingman program, a joint venture between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Boeing Defence Australia, to develop an unmanned aerial combat platform that, with modern fighter-like performance, would complement and partner with manned combat aircraft.

Its relatively low price will significantly increase the number of combat platforms that an Air Force can put in the air, functioning as a «force multiplier». Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and low radar signature, the aircraft will be capable of performing various types of dangerous missions in contested airspace, mitigating the risk over manned fighters.

According to Boeing data, the MQ-28 will be 38 ft long (11.7 m) and will be capable of flying more than 2,000 nautical miles (3,600 km). It will integrate different onboard sensor packages for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical early warning, etc. missions.