Australia’s Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) has provided an interesting, article, dated March 22, 2022, concerning:
“Boeing’s
Australian-produced uncrewed aircraft named ‘MQ-28A Ghost Bat’”
“Boeing Australia congratulated the Australian government and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on their selection of ‘MQ-28A Ghost Bat’ [was called the “Loyal Wingman” UCAV in Australia] as the military designator and name for the first Australian-produced military combat aircraft in over 50 years. Australia Defence Minister Peter Dutton announced the designator and name at a dedicated ceremony held at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.
“The introduction of the new popular name is a rare and special moment in aviation history for our RAAF partners and industry team of over 35 Australian suppliers,” said Glen Ferguson, director Airpower Teaming System Australia and International. “Selecting the Ghost Bat, an Australian native mammal known for teaming together in a pack to detect and hunt, reflects the unique characteristics of the aircraft’s sensors and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance abilities, and is a fitting name for this pioneering capability,” said Ferguson.
With a rapid development timetable of just three years from ideation to first flight, the development program leverages advancements in digital engineering, advanced manufacturing and unique Australian supply chain technologies. While the RAAF Loyal Wingman development program name will phase out, Boeing’s product name for global customers will remain the Airpower Teaming System.
“Our enduring partnership with Commonwealth of Australia and Australian Defence Force (ADF) is fundamental to the successful development of MQ-28A’s complex technologies and capabilities, and has global export potential for Australia,” said Dr Brendan Nelson, president Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific.
During 2022, the program
will continue to accelerate the development and testing of the MQ-28A Ghost
Bat, with a focus on sensor and missionisation capabilities to deliver on RAAF
commitments. These requirements will continue to expand as Boeing moves towards
the aim of delivering an operational capability for the ADF.”
Pete Comment
It is extremely rare in Australia for such a complex weapon project to be developed so quickly. The likely long range and uncrewed nature of the semi-autonomous MQ-28A Ghost Bat might present a solution to large numbers of Chinese manned aircraft that one day may be based on islands to Australia’s north.
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See MQ-28A Ghost Bat perform short test flight to funky soundtrack.
Thanks Pete fascinating and quite an achievement by Boeing Australia.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I am being selfish on behalf of the navy but I have to wonder if some of the IT and AI specialists on this project could next be given a try at developing command systems for UAVs and torpedoes for the RANs submarines? We already do a lot of work developing the Mk48 torpedos with the USN.
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to the MQ-28A:
An article was published in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) by Andrew Tillett, following up on the recently-concluded Virtual Summit between the Prime Ministers of India & Australia (which was incidentally right after PM Modi's in-person summit with the Japanese PM Kishida).
It talks about an impending 'deployment' of Indian spy planes (journalist-speak for P-8I maritime patrol aircraft) to Australia.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/indian-spy-plane-deployment-latest-move-to-bolster-defence-ties-20220322-p5a6ot
And also this piece preceding it:
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-and-modi-step-up-defence-co-operation-20220321-p5a6ez
As the articles are behind a paywall, I'm only going to reproduce bits & pieces, and often paraphrasing:
"The types of exercises we’ve done with the Indians in the past have been pretty light on, but this would be a step-up in terms of complexity. This is where we were 15 years ago with Japan: fairly uncomplicated maritime surveillance, then it becomes co-ordinating ships and aircraft at sea. Exercises are ladder of complexity and this is the first step being climbed." - Peter Jennings of ASPI
Two examples of the previous exercises Mr. Jennings is alluding to:
https://news.defence.gov.au/international/poseidon-power-major-exercise
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-anti-submarine-exercise-us-7710105/
And from the second AFR article, this piece:
"After several years of Australia and India stepping up the tempo of joint military exercises, the leaders also announced an Indian maritime patrol aircraft would be deployed to Australia sometime soon as part of strengthening collaboration on maritime issues.
It’s unclear where the aircraft will be based but it is expected that Australian aircraft will also pay a reciprocal visit to India, as the leaders spoke about the need to keep open critical regional maritime corridors..."
The two articles draw a lot from the joint statements issued via official channels, though the joint statement did not actually mention any specifics of an aircraft deployment:
https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/35008/JOINT+STATEMENT++INDIAAUSTRALIA+VIRTUAL+SUMMIT
The important part under the 'Defence & Security Cooperation' section goes:
"Leaders underscored the importance of reciprocal access arrangements in facilitating deeper operational defence cooperation and its contribution towards free and open critical regional maritime corridors."
Continued in Part-2...
...Continued from above
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely clear regarding the nature of the Indian P-8's visit. Though the line in the second article about it being 'based' as opposed to the reciprocal Australian aircraft's 'visit' is interesting, but I don't know if that is anything substantial to go on. But what I can tell you is that India has been wanting to operate aircraft out of Australia's Cocos Islands (also known as Keeling Islands) for quite some time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_(Keeling)_Islands
This interest is documented in publications as well...
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/islands-opportunity-where-india-and-australia-can-work-together
https://www.idsa.in/issuebrief/australias-strategic-imperatives-in-indo-pacific-rpsingh-230222
The 'reciprocal' part may come in with regard to Australia's access to operate from facilities on the Andaman & Nicobar islands, or perhaps even the new ones coming up on the Mauritius' Agalega island, which seems tailored for operations of P-8 or other large aircraft:
https://youtu.be/wKb1nZ5YnCg
While I'd wait & see regarding what kind of 'deployment' AFR is talking about (because it could simply be another joint exercise), but as a closing note, I'd say that in addition to building Domain Awareness underwater (such as through 'Fish Hook' SOSUS/IUSS), its also important for QUAD nations to extend that cooperation into Surface, Air & Space domains in order to build & maintain a full spectrum of surveillance & domain-awareness capabilities against PLAN activities in the Indo-Pacific, which would only be growing by leaps & bounds in the coming years & decades.
Cheers
Another interesting news item:
ReplyDeleteAfter Taiwan, it appears South Korea's President-elect Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol wants ROK to be the next aspirant member of the QUAD:
https://twitter.com/Rover829/status/1503875293228015622
Hi Anonymous [at Mar 24, 2022, 1:05:00 AM]
ReplyDeleteI to hope the RAN is wise enough to tap the Ghost Bat IT/AI specialists' talent to contribute to naval UAVs and Mk48 torpedo upgrades.
Cheers Pete
Thanks Gessler for your two comments both dated Mar 24, 2022, 6:01:00 AM
ReplyDeleteI'll turn them into an article soon.
Cheers
Pete
Also thanks Gessler for your Mar 24, 2022, 7:17:00 PM.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense South Korea joins the QUAD. Although SK's "Frenemy" [1] Japan might veto such a move.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenemy
Regards Pete
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteSK doesn't need to be part of the Quad imho. It only needs to become friendly with Japan. Together, they're a very powerful alliance. But, well, politics, long memories, etc. And India is showing it's not exactly a Western friendly country either, since it's still buying Russian oil (Putin offered them a discount of $35 a barrel, apparently)
As for the Ghost Bat program, now that the proof of concept phase is over, I hope they build some useful variants. Like one with a longer range and larger weapons bay, so they can escort a Poseidon or C130 the entire distance, or give Aust a B21 on the cheap.
Speaking of cost, no one actually mentions what the cost of one of these high tech drones is. My concern is they'll still cost $tens of millions, so even if you build, say, 50, you won't get them quickly, and still not in the hundreds that people dream of.
On a different topic,your viewer numbers jumped from 3 million to over 5 million. Must have a lot of lurkers, or the CCP are copying a lot of information, my friend.
Have a good one mate
Andrew
Hi Andrew
ReplyDeleteAlso North Korea might do something strange and unpredictable if South Korea joined the Quad.
Northeast Asia is more generally strange. Like there being no peace treaty following the Korean War and SK and Japan still harbouring antagonisms long after Japan was ejected from SK in 1945.
No doubt some part of SK's and J's submarine forces keep constant surveillance on each other - instead of increasing surveillance on the real-potential enemies NK, China and increasingly Russia.
India would realise its winning no Western popularity contests in India's economic support of Russia. But India has too often been let down or judged by Western countries that object to India's non-aligned status.
Australia's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_MQ-28_Ghost_Bat Program shows considerable promise. Once some Ghost Bats are altered with more wing area some may fill a niche as long loitering, longer range UCAVs. In Ghost Bat's present form it is a stealthy fighter-bomber with much more range than an F-35A (no pilot or even return journey to worry about).
Yes the future Ghost Bat cost it unpredictable. Maybe a return version and a much cheaper one-way very smart cruise missile version?
The pageview numbers for my blog haven't suddenly jumped. Since the 3 million mark they've been cruising gradually upwards at around 800,000 a year. The largest viewer group by far is the US, then Australia, then Singapore, all other countries, about 5 Russians a day (from Moscow and St Petersburg) and about 1 a day from China/PRC.
Most pageviews are now bland IP addresses not indicating their organisations or word searches. In the good old days (10+ years ago) I'd get names of intelligence organisations and nuclear weapon establishments in-clear.
Cheers Pete
retortPouch sent the comment below:
ReplyDelete"Suspect half of the Singapore views some years ago was just me refreshing the page over and over again oops"
To which I respond
Thanks retortPouch
Visits from everywhere to SubMatts are welcome.
Cheers Pete