Defence


Loyal Wingman now known as MQ-28A Ghost Bat

Defence




The first military aircraft to be built in Australia in over half a century has been given a new name, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat.

Boeing congratulated the Australian government and Royal Australian Air Force on the selection, with the Loyal Wingman development program name to be phased out.

The new military designator and name was announced by defence minister Peter Dutton at a ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.

The ghost bat is described on the Australian Museum website as the country’s only carnivorous bat, using large eyes as well as echolocation to detect prey, and roosting in colonies “in caves, old mine tunnels and in deep cracks in rocks.”

“Selecting the Ghost Bat, an Australian native mammal known for teaming together in a pack to detect and hunt, reflects the unique characteristics of the aircraft’s sensors and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance abilities, and is a fitting name for this pioneering capability,” said Glen Ferguson, director Airpower Teaming System Australia and International.

Boeing will continue to use the name Airpower Teaming System with international customers for the product, an unmanned 11.7-metre plane with a range of 3,700 kilometres, designed to fly in a team with jets such as the F-35 joint strike fighter.

“Our enduring partnership with Commonwealth of Australia and Australian Defence Force (ADF) is fundamental to the successful development of MQ-28A’s complex technologies and capabilities, and has global export potential for Australia,” said Dr Brendan Nelson, president of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific.

The newly-named aircraft will be produced at a new site at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba, which Boeing has described as the “first aircraft assembly site of its kind outside North America.”

The Ghost Bat was developed by Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force consortium of over 35 Australian participants, including BAE Systems, Ferra Engineering and RUAG Australia. 

Picture: Boeing

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