Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS) - MQ-28 Ghost Bat

Having watched again the video, I admit that I might have been confused by the paint. Sorry for that.

Anyway, @TomS, was it necessary to pass me for an imbecile?
 
Anyone understand what the guy is doing at 00:07 (bolting screw on the skin)?
Probably making the same thing as this guy with a measuring tape - imitating a wild activity for a video operator
 

Attachments

  • Boeing_LW_30_FINAL_V3.mp4_snapshot_00.06_[2020.12.22_05.51.19].jpg
    Boeing_LW_30_FINAL_V3.mp4_snapshot_00.06_[2020.12.22_05.51.19].jpg
    886 KB · Views: 262
It would be really hard to put Slammer inside if weapons bay are considered for production version though...
 

Attachments

  • f9861d56-7ae2-4e85-87d8-559c70b21030.jpg
    f9861d56-7ae2-4e85-87d8-559c70b21030.jpg
    59.9 KB · Views: 272
  • 5d5c06d1-faf2-4868-b6c6-86108bbb0005.jpg
    5d5c06d1-faf2-4868-b6c6-86108bbb0005.jpg
    73.3 KB · Views: 280

Attachments

  • 7ADB99DD-81C1-4019-92F3-71868479A68D.jpeg
    7ADB99DD-81C1-4019-92F3-71868479A68D.jpeg
    74.2 KB · Views: 205
Boeing Video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSKNW-KAaJ0

and australian govermnent video, which is longer.
also kind of shows the bay. looks like a single bay

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN6bw35nzSQ
Can you point me to the time stamp where the bay can be seen?
second video at 0:33
I suggest you watch it at full screen because its at the very top edge

looks a bit narrow, perhaps big enough for one or two missiles?
 
^ after looking at it again, I think you're right!
where do you think the bay is if at all?
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20210302-180216_YouTube.jpg
    Screenshot_20210302-180216_YouTube.jpg
    583.1 KB · Views: 211
  • Screenshot_20210302-180405_YouTube.jpg
    Screenshot_20210302-180405_YouTube.jpg
    675.4 KB · Views: 234
Last edited:
Does anyone know the powerplant used for this airframe? I have a hunch it’s an off the shelf or minimally derived commercial turbofan.
 
That's a good looking airplane. For what reason is there no chatter about the USAF acquiring these for themselves? Is it because the XQ-58 or possibly classified programs fit their need better?
 
That's a good looking airplane. For what reason is there no chatter about the USAF acquiring these for themselves? Is it because the XQ-58 or possibly classified programs fit their need better?
it could be a reason to reduce f-35 numbers and which is bad if you wanna stay on cost target for the f-35
 
That's a good looking airplane. For what reason is there no chatter about the USAF acquiring these for themselves? Is it because the XQ-58 or possibly classified programs fit their need better?
Err...it is in the running:


 
Looks like a smaller, unmanned version of the McAir/Northrop JSF offering, note the Lambda wing planform.
...without weapon bays :(
Probably will get bays in subsequent versions, these two are probably for envelope expansion, loads and basic mission profiles.
Most probably not
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/boeing-ats-airpower-teaming-system.31452/post-429563
 
Last edited:
Seeing echoes of NGAD and B-21's seemingly untroubled development with the aid of digital engineering here:

Aussies aim for $1B in exports of Loyal Wingman, now ‘Ghost Bat’​


“Selecting the Ghost Bat, an Australian native mammal known for teaming together in a pack to detect and hunt, reflects the unique characteristics of the aircraft’s sensors and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance abilities, and is a fitting name for this pioneering capability,” Glen Ferguson of Boeing said.​


By Colin Clark on March 23, 2022 at 4:16 PM
RAAF AIR BASE AMBERLEY: Australia, clearly thrilled by its apparent success in designing and building a new aircraft for the first time in 50 years, is eagerly aiming for substantial export sales of the Loyal Wingman drone system.[...]

[...]So far, Boeing and the RAAF have built six MQ-28 Ghost Bats, as it’s formally designated. While some have flown, the fleet is now undergoing extensive ground testing.
“Selecting the Ghost Bat, an Australian native mammal known for teaming together in a pack to detect and hunt, reflects the unique characteristics of the aircraft’s sensors and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance abilities, and is a fitting name for this pioneering capability,” Glen Ferguson, who heads the program for Boeing, said at the Monday morning ceremony here.


With the Australian federal budget due next Tuesday, Breaking Defense asked Dutton how many Ghost Bats the government planned to fund. He did not give a direct answer, saying only that ”There is a great utility in having scale and being able to launch an aircraft like this, because it complements what we’re doing with our fast jets and our other assets on water on land.”


That would seem to indicate Australia may well be looking at producing dozens of the Ghost Bat in the next five years, especially if they want to maximize scale as they begin to make foreign sales.
[...]

[...]The aircraft uses an open architecture to facilitate integration. While the aircraft can work with sensors and systems from a wide range of countries, it also incorporates components from a number of countries, so Boeing will have to comply with relevant export controls when it’s approached by a customer, Ferguson said.[...]

[...]One of the intriguing things about the drone program is that it is moving at such speed — from nothing to flight and ground testing in three years — that it’s not even clear if there will be any conventional acquisition milestones, such as full production. Instead, after years and years of discussions in Washington and elsewhere about spiral acquisition and upgrades as they path forward for faster acquisition, the Loyal Wingman program appears to actually be doing it effectively. Ferguson said they expect to do unsubstantial upgrades every two years “to get to a next generation of airframes.”


Overall, the Boeing executive said the Australian government’s commitment to the Ghost Bat program “has been unparalleled.” On such a fast-moving program, with the attendant risks, that may be a requirement for it to succeed.
 

Similar threads

Please donate to support the forum.

Back
Top Bottom