WOOMERA, Australia – On December 9, 2025, Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) successfully completed an unprecedented mission involving the autonomous firing of an air-to-air missile from an MQ-28 Ghost Bat, marking a major milestone that solidifies the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program as an advanced operational capability.
During the exercise, the MQ-28 launched a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM and shot down a fighter-class airborne target. The operation integrated three distinct platforms: an MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft, and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet.
+ Click here to watch the video
According to Amy List, managing director of Boeing Defence Australia, this was the first time an autonomous aircraft executed an air-to-air engagement using an AIM-120 missile. She emphasized that the result demonstrates the maturity of the MQ-28 as a full-capability CCA and reinforces the value of specialized unmanned aircraft in expanding operational mass, improving data sharing, and reducing risk to pilots.
How the mission unfolded
The three assets — MQ-28, E-7A, and F/A-18F — departed from different locations. After takeoff, an E-7A operator assumed custody of the MQ-28 to ensure safety and oversight of the engagement. Soon after, the F/A-18F joined formation with the Ghost Bat, providing sensor coverage. Once the target was detected and tracked, the Super Hornet shared the targeting data across all platforms.
The MQ-28 adjusted its position, received authorization from the E-7A, and executed the missile launch that destroyed the airborne target.
Colin Miller, vice president and general manager of Phantom Works — the advanced research and rapid-prototyping division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security — stated that the exercise confirms the maturity level of the autonomy solution developed by the company, built on open standards and government-owned architectures compatible with fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation aircraft. He also highlighted that the system’s development and integration — including hardware, software, and mission elements — occurred in less than eight months.
The operation involved joint participation from Boeing, the RAAF, the United States Air Force, and industry partners.
Boeing, the largest exporter in the United States and one of the global leaders in commercial aviation, defense, and space, operates in more than 150 countries with an extensive supplier network and a workforce dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and values such as safety, quality, and integrity.
Source and images: Boeing | Instagram @boeing. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
