Company / Aerial Drones
Boeing
US aerospace group whose uncrewed programmes include the MQ-28 Ghost Bat for the Royal Australian Air Force and the US Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray tanker.
Arlington, United StatesAerial Drones systems
About the company
About Boeing
The Boeing Company is a US aerospace and defence group with its global headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, a designation announced in May 2022. It is organised into three business units: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Global Services. In February 2026 Boeing moved the headquarters of its Defense, Space & Security unit from Arlington back to St. Louis.
Its main uncrewed aircraft programmes are the MQ-28 Ghost Bat and the MQ-25 Stingray. The MQ-28 is a collaborative combat aircraft developed by Boeing Defence Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force. In December 2025 an MQ-28 controlled from an E-7A Wedgetail destroyed a target drone with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, and the Australian Government awarded Boeing an AUD 754 million contract for a third tranche of seven aircraft, with an operational capability planned for 2028. The MQ-25A is the US Navy’s first operational carrier-based uncrewed aircraft and is designed for aerial refuelling. The first production-representative aircraft flew on 25 April 2026, the programme was cleared for low-rate initial production in May 2026, and in September 2026 the Navy ordered three Lot 1 aircraft, bringing the total under contract to 14.
Boeing’s subsidiary Insitu, based in Bingen, Washington, builds the ScanEagle, Integrator and RQ-21A Blackjack uncrewed aircraft. In August 2026 Boeing and Archer Aviation signed definitive agreements under which Archer is to acquire Insitu, Wisk Aero and SkyGrid in exchange for shares; at the time of writing the transaction was still subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close by the end of 2026.
In the news8 stories
Rohde & Schwarz and Diehl Defence join Boeing's German MQ-28 Ghost Bat industry team
Unmanned systems at ILA Berlin: the new partners were presented there. Alongside Rheinmetall, two further German companies are now on board for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, contributing weapons, mission and communication systems to the programme.
Unmanned tanker MQ-25A Stingray: first aircraft for the US Navy completes maiden flight
An unmanned tanker for aircraft carriers is drawing closer: Boeing has flown the US Navy's first MQ-25A for two hours, including the MD-5 ground control station. Further test flights and carrier qualification at Patuxent River will follow.
Bayraktar TB3 for the 'Cavour': Italian Navy to acquire Turkish drone via Leonardo
Italy apparently intends to procure the Bayraktar TB3 for the aircraft carrier 'Cavour' (C 550). Before a Senate committee, Vice Admiral Berutti Bergotto named Leonardo as the procurement route and surveillance and armed missions as its tasks.
Unmanned combat aircraft for the RAAF: Australia procures MQ-28A Ghost Bat from Boeing
Around 860 million euros go to Boeing Defence Australia: with the Ghost Bat, Australia relies on unmanned combat aircraft teamed with the F-35 and others. Analysts expect a boost for domestic industry – and possibly US interest.
Military drone Integrator: Insitu adds P-LEO satellite control for up to 2,000 nautical miles
Controlled via satellites in proliferated low Earth orbit, the Integrator military drone from Boeing subsidiary Insitu is set to stay on mission for up to 27.5 hours – without occupying any of its six payload bays.
Unmanned systems on the USS George H.W. Bush: US Navy installs first Unmanned Air Warfare Center
It will first control Boeing's MQ-25 tanker drone and later also Collaborative Combat Aircraft: the new control centre for unmanned systems on board the aircraft carrier is due to be tested for the first time early next year.
Combat drone MQ-28 Ghost Bat: Boeing Australia builds dedicated production facility
Boeing is building a new production facility in Australia for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat combat drone. A Global Data market study expects the country to invest around 4.7 billion euros in unmanned aerial vehicles over the next decade.
MQ-25 Stingray: Boeing's unmanned tanker flies with a refuelling store for the first time
The MQ-25 Stingray is meant to relieve the US Navy's F-18E/F of tanker duties. On 9 December, Boeing's T1 prototype flew for the first time with Cobham's hose-drum refuelling store – controlled from a ground station.