The Royal Australian Air Force has successfully concluded Exercise Carlsbad at Base Tindal in the Northern Territory, marking the first time the MQ-28A Ghost Bat has been deployed and operated outside the Woomera Training Area in South Australia.
The exercise aimed to evaluate the platform’s performance in a new setting, focusing on deployment logistics, technical system assessments, and mission-readiness validation. The MQ-28A was airlifted from the Australian International Air Show to Base Tindal using a C-17 Globemaster.
This event is one of several trials scheduled for the year to advance the operational testing of the Ghost Bat. Developed in partnership with Boeing Defence Australia, the MQ-28A is an uncrewed aircraft designed to complement manned fighter jets by enhancing situational awareness and increasing combat effectiveness.
Its integration into operations is expected to boost the survivability and mass of Australian air combat capabilities.
