US-Australia Ties Strong: Australian MQ-28 Drones May Be Operated by US Military in Future

The Australian MQ-28 'Ghost Bat' unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has officially entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The drone recently flew alongside U.S. Air Force F-15EX fighter jets during the 'Valiant Shield 2026' joint exercise, showcasing deepening military cooperation between the two nations.

U.S. Air Force Pacific Commander Gen. Kevin Schneider revealed that future collaboration could extend to a shared command structure, potentially enabling U.S. forces to directly operate the Australian MQ-28s. This possibility underscores the robust and integrated nature of the U.S.-Australia alliance in advanced military technology.

Schneider noted that the U.S. Air Force's 'Experimental Operating Unit' (EOU), responsible for developing collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) tactics, worked closely with the Australian MQ-28 team during the exercise. The exchange of information and experiences is directly informing the U.S. military's CCA program, indicating a strong synergy in research and development.

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In the future, we will further study cross-border command and control structures, enabling the two air forces to share collaborative combat drone capabilities, not only enhancing combat effectiveness but also facilitating logistics and maintenance integration.

While the MQ-28 is not currently part of the U.S. Air Force's official CCA procurement, it has been instrumental in testing autonomous flight technologies. Australia has received eight initial production models, with Boeing developing enhanced Block 2 and significantly improved Block 3 variants featuring extended wings and internal weapons bays.

Schneider also discussed the U.S. Air Force's plans for its second phase of CCA development (Increment 2), which focuses on lower-cost, simpler designs, and potentially new drones deployable from other aircraft. He emphasized the need for a balanced force structure, combining high-end capabilities with numerous low-cost systems to provide commanders with diverse operational options. The conflict in Ukraine and recent Israeli combat experiences are also influencing the U.S. Air Force's 'Agile Combat Employment' (ACE) concept, focusing on rapid dispersal, early warning, deception, and active base defense.

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In the future, the Air Force cannot rely solely on a small number of high-performance platforms; it must balance high-end combat power with a large number of low-cost systems to provide commanders with more operational options.