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Boeing Tests MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone From California Navy Base
Boeing has begun flight tests of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone from Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. The tests mark the aircraft's first international operation in allied airspace and aim to demonstrate maturity for potential export sales.
May 28, 7:42 PM·2m read2 sources
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Routine testKey milestone
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U.S. Navy base at Point Mugu, California. The company stated the flights are intended to show the design's maturity and promote export sales beyond Australia. The MQ-28 has completed at least three flights within the Point Mugu Sea Range off southern California.
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Naval Air Station Point Mugu, part of Naval Base Ventura County, provides direct access to the range and is already used for uncrewed aircraft operations including the MQ-4C Triton.
Boeing described the Point Mugu flights as the MQ-28's first international operation in allied airspace. The aircraft used in these tests features a two-tone gray paint scheme and an infrared search and track sensor in the nose. In December, a Pentagon video showed Secretary Pete Hegseth at the base with an MQ-28 visible in the background.
That aircraft displayed an earlier paint scheme with high-visibility orange trim and lacked the IRST sensor. The MQ-28 is a modular design with a swappable nose section. Boeing noted that the tests validate autonomous systems while meeting required airspace, range safety, and regulatory approvals.
The MQ-28 has flown in Australia since 2021.
The Royal Australian Air Force has received eight pre-production Block 1 aircraft. Boeing is now building the first of nine Block 2 drones as a step toward an operational Block 3 version. Block 3 aircraft are planned to be larger with greater range and an internal weapons bay.
Block 1 aircraft have already demonstrated crewed-uncrewed teaming with E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters, as well as a live-fire AIM-120 launch. Boeing has named Japan as a potential customer and is exploring opportunities with other Indo-Pacific countries.
