Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

[MARKMILES77]

Minister for Defence Industry gave a speech Today, which gave updates on a number of Defence related projects including Ghostbat.

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/speeches/2025-08-19/address-queensland-media-club-delivering-australias-defence-capability

Didn't mention whether the "improved capabilities" includes a weapons bay but would think likely.

 

[MARKMILES77]

Also moving ahead with smaller drones:

 

[hauritz]

Also moving ahead with smaller drones:View attachment 53347

I am always curious about these small start up companies so I looked up AMSL Aero. They recieved a grant to develop and demonstrate liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft for regional and remote Australia.

News & Media | Vertiia

www.amslaero.com

 

[MARKMILES77]

Some great images of the RAAF Peregrine courtesy of SR_Planespotter on X.

https://x.com/SR_Planespotter/status/1960030144455975341

 

[DDG38]

For those who try to avoid clicking on Twitter cesspool links Image credit to SR_Planespotter

 

[seaspear]

Interesting post from Warzone with the U.S Poseidon deploying a radar system capable of being lowered past engines to increase coverage ,the picture was taken by a Russian pilot over the Black Sea, naturally first thoughts are of advantages to the R.A.A.F for its own Poseidon aircraft in having such a radar

Navy P-8 Poseidon Carrying Secretive Radar Pod Seen In Russian Fighter’s Intercept Video

The radar-based AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor pod is seen extended below the P-8’s fuselage on a rare mission over the Black Sea. The radar-based AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor pod is seen extended below the P-8’s fuselage on a mission over the Black Sea.

www.twz.com

Rare Image Shows P-8 Poseidon’s Advanced Airborne Sensor Extended

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon was intercepted over the Black Sea, with a video recorded by a Russian pilot showing the APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor

theaviationist.com

 

[AndyinOz]

I suspect that the RAAF has had a pretty good look at it for a while now, mention was made of it being used on aircraft during Talisman Sabre 2025, ( Record Talisman Sabre exercise | The Australian Naval Institute ) though I am sure it was fairly well known about even before then since the first flight of it was notified back in 2015. ( https://www.navair.navy.mil/node/16226 ) it is interesting to see it deployed like that away from the body of the aircraft I imagine that helps the apparently double sided AESA radar give 360 degree or near enough coverage of the airspace. TWZ made mention of the system back in 2020 but there wasn't any images of it deployed away from the fuselage like that. (Navy P-8 With Secretive Radar Pod Surveils Massive Chinese Naval Base In South China Sea)

 

[Bob53]

Interesting concept here with a wing kit that fits to 155m and 127mm artillery shells and turns them into an air launched precision weapon.

 

[MARKMILES77]

A Ghostbat flying display was put on for the media at Woomera.
At a Press Conference afterwards, confirmation that construction of Block II aircraft is underway and planning for
a Block III was revealed, though no details of what that might be.

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/transcripts/2025-09-05/press-conference-woomera

 

[MARKMILES77]

Channel Seven's report from the event and a further Ministerial comment:

 

[hauritz]

Channel Seven's report from the event and a further Ministerial comment:
View attachment 53451

Good to hear they are no longer mucking around and are now openly talking about arming these things. While OS sales would be nice the important issue is that we aquire a sovereign capability.

 

[Tbone]

Will block 3 ghost bats be just a larger aircraft or a complete redesign? Am I right by saying black 3 will be the the first real production version and be produce on mass for the RAAF?

 

[SammyC]

Will block 3 ghost bats be just a larger aircraft or a complete redesign? Am I right by saying black 3 will be the the first real production version and be produce on mass for the RAAF?

I can't imagine a block 3 would be a complete redesign, the block 2 seems to work well.

It kind of indicates the potential for a limited production run of the smaller block 2 ISR MQ28s as they currently are, alongside the development of a larger framed block 3 with a weapons bay for prototype testing.

Note the new Boeing factory in Toowoomba is not supposed to be online until 2027, so there is ample time for another couple of prototype blocks before mass production can be physically undertaken.

I will note, there is a lot that has not been shown or tested in regards to the MQ28. We have not for instance seen it paired with an F35 or FA18 and actually utilised as a forward ISR scout. Additionally while it has been paired with an E7, again we have not seen it actually utilised to expand the E7's sensor range and function as an integrated system.

I think there is a big step from developing a platform that can conduct basic flying (navigation, crash avoidance) and communication with a host aircraft (where we are now), and one that can be given a tasking to autonomously carry out a mission.

I think there is still a lot to do.