Saab recently announced that its Australian subsidiary, Saab Australia, will supply the TactiCall secure communication system for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft, developed by Boeing Australia. In addition, Saab will provide avionics equipment, including electromechanical actuators and controllers for the primary flight control system, developed by the Swedish branch of the company.
“The Ghost Bat is an exciting program for Australia’s defense sector, showcasing what can be achieved through collaboration between global defense organizations, local businesses, and the Defense Forces,” said Andy Keough, Managing Director of Saab Australia. “We are proud to be part of Boeing’s team working on the MQ-28 program and to supply our TactiCall communication solution. TactiCall integrates all communication technologies into a single, intuitive user interface, enabling secure information tracking and exchange across multiple classification levels.”
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, previously known as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, is the first combat aircraft designed and built in Australia in 50 years. It is currently undergoing testing with both the Royal Australian Air Force and the United States Air Force for integration with manned fighter jets. Saab joins over 200 companies contributing to the MQ-28 program.
“We have focused on providing opportunities for Australian companies, increasing the number of participants involved in the platform’s development from 55 to 74 over the past 12 months,” said Glen Ferguson, Director of the Boeing MQ-28 Global Program. “As we build a truly global capability, we are also integrating Saab’s flight-proven electromechanical equipment. This allows us to operate at high speed and accelerate our ability to meet operational requirements.”
Saab describes the TactiCall integrated communication solutions as unifying all communication technologies, regardless of radio band, frequency, or hardware. The system is designed to minimize effort, reduce risks, and enhance operational speed. It includes user terminals, a network, and radio infrastructure, offering high resilience. TactiCall enables the management of voice communication and data transmission through a single, streamlined user interface.
TactiCall also offers secure communication solutions that facilitate information tracking and exchange across multiple security levels, according to Saab. The system is versatile, with applications in naval, aviation, maritime, energy, and civilian sectors.
The Ghost Bat, originally developed by Boeing Defence Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), is a multipurpose system designed to operate alongside manned aircraft. Initially known as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS), development began in 2013. The prototype was unveiled at the Australian International Airshow in 2019, with its first flight taking place on February 27, 2021, at the Woomera Range Complex in South Australia.
The multipurpose unmanned platform features a 1.5-cubic-meter nose compartment designed to accommodate interchangeable payloads for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), airborne radar observation, electronic warfare (EW) sensors, radar systems, and various strike munitions. Described as a next-generation Loyal Wingman, its development involved contributions from 55 Australian companies and had secured $600 million in funding as of February 2024.
According to Boeing, the Ghost Bat leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to operate as an intelligent team alongside existing military aircraft, enhancing and expanding aerial mission capabilities. Comparable in size to a lightweight fighter jet, the MQ-28 features side air intakes, “cranked kite” wing designs, and swept V-shaped tails. It boasts a range of nearly 3,200 kilometers and can “fly autonomously” using its onboard AI.
Designed with stealth as a priority, Boeing has showcased renderings of the aircraft with three different nose configurations. One configuration integrates an IRST (Infrared Search and Track) sensor, while the others appear tailored for reconnaissance and electronic warfare (EW) or radar operations. The EW configuration likely supports detecting, jamming, or disabling enemy ground-based radar systems.
The MQ-28 can also serve as an escort for critical support assets, such as EW aircraft, the E-7A Wedgetail, or KC-30 aerial refueling tankers. However, it remains unclear whether the UAV is being considered as a system to enhance the survivability of manned platforms. Upon completing its mission, the aircraft will be “returned to the launch and recovery operator for supervision during landing, deceleration, and a full stop,” said Ferguson.
“Over the past two years, we have made significant progress in developing the capabilities of the Ghost Bat, and we are working to deliver it into service with the Royal Australian Air Force within the next few years,” said a Boeing Australia representative. “The MQ-28 was designed, manufactured, and tested at record speed, and Boeing and the RAAF recently celebrated surpassing 100 flight test hours and 20,000 hours in a digital environment.”
Source: TheAviationist
