Boeing’s Ghost Bat drone gets hidden weapons, longer range for Indo-Pacific ops

Boeing has unveiled significant upgrades to its MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed combat aircraft, transitioning it from a technology demonstrator to a deployable "loyal wingman" designed to operate alongside crewed fighters in high-end air operations. The Block 3 version features major structural enhancements, including larger wings that increase wingspan from 6 to 7.3 meters, boosting fuel capacity by about 30% and extending mission range—an improvement aimed primarily at supporting long-distance missions in the Indo-Pacific region. Notably, the drone will now incorporate internal weapons bays capable of carrying air-to-air missiles like the AIM-120 AMRAAM and precision-guided munitions such as the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, enhancing survivability by maintaining a low-observable profile. The Ghost Bat’s modular architecture remains a key feature, with a swappable nose section allowing integration of various mission payloads including infrared search-and-track sensors and electronic warfare packages, with additional classified sensor variants