Category: Drones

The RAAF-defined demonstrations required the MQ-28 to execute a series of operationally relevant missions designed to supplement and enhance capabilities of existing crewed platforms.

The drones were developed under Defence’s Sovereign Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) Challenge, which tasked local companies with designing and producing cost-effective, general-purpose platforms to support frontline operations.

The aircraft have previously completed testing earlier this year, in which a single human operator onboard a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was able to successfully control two Ghost Bats in a mission against airborne targets.

The American defence company produces the V-BAT vertical-takeoff and landing, AI-based uncrewed aerial system for military, border protection, law enforcement, search and rescue, climate surveillance and disaster management operations.

The remotely piloted aircraft system, which can carry a 25-kilogram underslung payload with a maximum 40-minute flight time and a maximum 15-kilometre operating range, was tested as a possible delivery system for the Royal Australian Navy to receive cr…