First Royal Australian Air Force pilot trained to fly MQ-28A Ghost Bat drone.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has trained its first pilot to operate the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Wing Commander Phil Parsons, a senior RAAF officer, became the first non-Boeing pilot to participate in the MQ-28A flight test program. Parsons, who completed his training on June 13, 2024, has been appointed to oversee the launch and recovery of the MQ-28A and monitor the aircraft in flight. Additionally, he will manage the aircraft during takeoff and landing. Parsons previously commanded Task Force Heron, a contingent of the Australian Defence Force. In 2014, Parsons received an award for completing 25,000 flight hours with unmanned aerial vehicles in Afghanistan.
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Official presentation of loyal wingman drone , MQ-28A Ghost Bat (Picture source: Boeing)

The Ghost Bat would be deployed alongside crewed aircraft, such as an E-7A, F-35A, or F/A-18F, with the crew assigning it missions like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. This integration into the airborne formation of crewed aircraft embodies the loyal wingman concept.

In other words, the "Loyal Wingman" concept refers to an autonomous drone designed to fly alongside piloted aircraft, particularly fighters, to support them during missions. These autonomous drones use artificial intelligence to carry out complex tasks such as reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or even air strikes, all while remaining under the supervision of the main aircraft. Their role is to relieve human pilots of dangerous or repetitive tasks, enhance the combat capabilities of the formation, and potentially serve as shields or decoys to protect manned aircraft. This concept is part of ongoing efforts to integrate advanced autonomous technologies into modern air forces, improving operational efficiency while reducing risks for human pilots.

The Ghost Bat is an unmanned military aerial vehicle equipped with autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. The aircraft is designed to act as a "faithful wingman," assisting military assets and pilots in aerial combat command missions. Developed by Boeing Australia in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a revolutionary autonomous combat drone designed to function as a "loyal wingman" alongside piloted aircraft. Announced in 2019, the Ghost Bat made its first test flight in February 2021, marking a significant milestone in integrating autonomy into modern air forces. With its modular design and advanced artificial intelligence, the MQ-28 can perform various missions, from reconnaissance to electronic warfare, while reducing risks to human pilots. Despite these advancements, the project faced design challenges, particularly in ensuring secure communication between the drone and piloted aircraft, as well as managing autonomy in complex environments.

Currently, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat continues to be manufactured at Boeing's Fishermans Bend facility in Victoria, according to the company's website.