Overview
- Boeing confirmed the MQ-28 has flown at least three sorties from the Point Mugu Sea Range off the California coast to test autonomous systems and operating procedures.
- Company statements say the activity was intended to show the aircraft can operate from allied facilities and to bolster export marketing to partners such as Japan and European firms.
- The flights do not explicitly name formal U.S. Navy participation, leaving ambiguous how the tests tie to the Navy’s separate Collaborative Combat Aircraft work and other uncrewed programs.
- The MQ-28 has an operational history in Australia with eight Block 1 pre-production airframes, has demonstrated crewed-uncrewed teaming, and has fired an AIM-120 from an external pylon.
- Key public gaps remain about how many Ghost Bats are in the United States, which specific airframes or blocks flew at Point Mugu, and whether Boeing’s demonstrations will lead to allied procurement or deeper U.S. service adoption.