Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have carried out an air-to-air autonomous weapon engagement using an MQ-28 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), the first time the type has launched an AIM-120 missile. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat operated with an...
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Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have carried out an air-to-air autonomous weapon engagement using an MQ-28 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), the first time the type has launched an AIM-120 missile. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat operated with an E-7A Wedgetail and an F/A-18F Super Hornet to engage and destroy a fighter-class target drone.
“This is the first time an autonomous aircraft has completed an air-to-air weapon engagement with an AIM-120 missile, establishing the MQ-28 as a mature combat capable CCA,” said Amy List, managing director, Boeing Defence Australia. “This latest achievement proves the advantage specialized CCA platforms bring to defense forces' mission effectiveness, delivering increased operational mass and data exchange for informed decision-making while reducing cost and crewed pilot risk.”
The three aircraft launched from different locations before the E-7A assumed custodianship of the MQ-28 to provide safety and oversight. The F/A-18F then joined the MQ-28 in formation, supplying sensor coverage and sharing targeting data across all platforms once it identified and tracked the target. After repositioning and receiving authorisation from the E-7A, the MQ-28 fired a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM and destroyed the drone.
“This exercise demonstrates the maturity and sophistication of Boeing's mission autonomy solution which is built on open standards and government architectures and is capable of integrating with fourth, fifth and sixth generation aircraft,” said Colin Miller, vice president and general manager for Phantom Works, Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “It is a true example of speed-to-capability. The team implemented open architectures and an advanced digital ecosystem to develop the necessary hardware, software, and mission systems required to successfully integrate, test and employ the weapon in a live, operationally relevant scenario in under eight months.”
The activity was carried out by Boeing, the RAAF, the U.S. Air Force and industry partners.
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