Australia -- Drone / UAS Inventory
Last Updated: 2026-03-29 | Next Review Due: 2026-04-29
Last updated: 2026-03-28
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED // OSINT
Source ratings per: SOURCE_RATING.md
Overview
Australia operates one of the most advanced drone fleets in the Indo-Pacific, anchored by the MQ-28A Ghost Bat (Boeing loyal wingman), MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance, MQ-9B for armed ISR, and ScanEagle for tactical use. DSTG (Defence Science and Technology Group) conducts advanced autonomy and counter-drone research. The Ghost Bat represents a world-first in autonomous loyal wingman technology and is a key ADF capability.
Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Designation | MQ-28A Ghost Bat (formerly Airpower Teaming System / Loyal Wingman) |
| Type | Autonomous combat UAV / Loyal Wingman |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Australia |
| Origin | Australia (designed and built in Australia by Boeing Defence Australia) |
| Length | ~11.7 m |
| Wingspan | ~7.3 m |
| MTOW | Classified (~6,000 kg estimated) |
| Range | ~3,700 km |
| Speed | High subsonic (jet-powered) |
| Payload | Modular nose section ("mission packages") for ISR, EW, or weapons |
| Armament | Designed to carry weapons internally; specific munitions classified; expected to include JDAM-class bombs and potentially air-to-air missiles |
| Status | Flight testing ongoing (first flight 2021); RAAF ordered initial tranche; IOC timeline mid-to-late 2020s |
| Export | US interest (USAF considering); potential Five Eyes export |
| Combat use | None yet |
| EOD relevance | High -- jet-powered armed UCAV; crash site may contain live munitions in modular weapons bay; composite/stealth materials; jet fuel (JP-8 class); lithium battery systems; autonomous flight software raises concerns about unpredictable behavior if damaged |
| Sources | Boeing Defense Australia official (A-2), RAAF/ADF official releases (A-2), Jane's (B-2), ASPI reporting (B-2) |
Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Designation | MQ-4C Triton |
| Type | HALE maritime surveillance UAV |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| Origin | United States |
| Wingspan | 39.9 m |
| MTOW | ~14,628 kg |
| Endurance | ~24+ hours |
| Ceiling | ~55,000 ft |
| Speed | ~575 km/h |
| Payload | AN/ZPY-3 MFAS (Multi-Function Active Sensor) radar, EO/IR, ESM/SIGINT, AIS |
| Armament | None (ISR only) |
| RAAF service | RAAF acquiring up to 6 MQ-4C under AIR 7000 Phase 1B; based at RAAF Edinburgh, SA |
| Mission | Maritime surveillance across Indo-Pacific, complement to P-8A Poseidon |
| EOD relevance | Low -- unarmed ISR; very large airframe means significant crash debris field; JP-5 fuel |
| Sources | US DSCA (A-1), Northrop Grumman (A-1), ADF annual reports (A-1), Jane's (B-1) |
General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Designation | MQ-9B SkyGuardian (armed variant under consideration) |
| Type | MALE armed-capable ISR UAV |
| Manufacturer | General Atomics Aeronautical Systems |
| Origin | United States |
| Wingspan | ~24 m |
| MTOW | ~5,670 kg |
| Endurance | ~40+ hours |
| Ceiling | ~40,000 ft |
| Payload | EO/IR, SAR, maritime radar; ~2,155 kg external stores |
| Armament | AGM-114 Hellfire, GBU-12/38, potential integration of Australian weapons |
| ADF service | ADF acquiring under Project SEA 129 Phase 5 (armed remotely piloted aircraft); numbers up to 12 |
| Combat use | MQ-9 family extensively combat-proven |
| EOD relevance | High -- armed variant with Hellfire/JDAM; crash site with live ordnance; fuel cells |
| Sources | ADF capability plan (A-1), US DSCA (A-1), GA-ASI (A-1), Jane's (B-1) |
Insitu ScanEagle
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Designation | ScanEagle / ScanEagle 2 |
| Type | Small tactical ISR UAV |
| Manufacturer | Insitu (Boeing subsidiary) |
| Origin | United States |
| Wingspan | ~3.1 m |
| MTOW | ~22 kg |
| Endurance | ~24+ hours |
| Launch | SuperWedge pneumatic launcher |
| Recovery | SkyHook wire-capture |
| Payload | EO/IR |
| Armament | None |
| ADF service | Australian Army; widely deployed including in Afghanistan, Iraq |
| Combat use | Extensive operational use in Middle East |
| EOD relevance | Low -- small unarmed ISR |
| Sources | ADF (A-1), Boeing/Insitu (A-1) |
Counter-Drone Programs
DSTG / ADF Counter-UAS Programs
| Field | Detail |
|---|
| Programs | - DSTG counter-drone research including directed energy, electronic warfare, and kinetic interceptors; - Army short-range air defense (SHORAD) modernization incorporating C-UAS; - DroneShield (Australian company) detection/jamming systems fielded by ADF; - CEA Technologies radar integration for small drone detection; - Joint Counter Small UAS Office (aligned with US JCO) |
| DroneShield products | DroneSentinel (detect), DroneGun (handheld jammer), DroneSentry-X (vehicle-mounted) |
| Status | Multiple programs in fielding; DroneShield systems in ADF service |
| EOD relevance | Moderate -- intercepted drone debris; jammed drones may crash with payload intact; C-UAS munitions (if kinetic) create secondary UXO |
| Sources | DSTG publications (A-2), ADF official (A-2), DroneShield (manufacturer) (A-2), ASPI (B-2) |
EOD-Specific Threat Summary
| Priority | System | Key hazard |
|---|
| High | MQ-28A Ghost Bat | Armed UCAV; modular weapons bay; advanced materials |
| High | MQ-9B SkyGuardian (armed) | Hellfire/JDAM ordnance on crash sites |
| Moderate | C-UAS intercepted drone debris | Payloads may survive intact; secondary effects |
| Low | MQ-4C Triton, ScanEagle | Unarmed ISR; fuel/composite/battery hazards |
Sources Summary
| Source | Rating | Notes |
|---|
| ADF official publications / capability plans | A-1 | Transparent defense reporting |
| US DSCA FMS notifications | A-1 | Confirmed sales |
| Boeing Defense Australia | A-2 | Official manufacturer |
| ASPI (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) | B-2 | High-quality think tank |
| Jane's | B-1 | Comprehensive ADF coverage |
| GA-ASI, Northrop Grumman specs | A-1 | Accurate manufacturer data |
| DroneShield official | A-2 | Australian company; product specs accurate |