The Royal Australian Air Force\u2019s Air Combat capability will be bolstered with the addition of uncrewed autonomous systems as part of the Morrison Government\u2019s additional investment of $454 million in the Loyal Wingman Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton, said the investment will deliver seven uncrewed autonomous aerial vehicles – recently named MQ-28A Ghost Bat \u2013 to come into service with the RAAF within the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSince 2017 the Coalition Government has invested more than $150 million dollars to support the joint venture between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Boeing Defence Australia to deliver a world-leading air system that will team with existing air combat aircraft and conduct air combat, reconnaissance and surveillance missions, \u201d Minister Dutton said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn just four years our partnership with Boeing has successfully designed, manufactured and flown the first Australian-built military combat aircraft in 50 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis investment today will see the MQ-28A systems expected to enter service with the RAAF in 2024-25.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With components for the aircraft to be manufactured around Australia and the production facility established in Toowoomba, the Morrison Government\u2019s investment will deliver significant job opportunities across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOver 70 per cent of each aircraft is sourced, designed and manufactured in Australia, by Australians,\u201d Minister Dutton said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis investment will more than double the Australian workforce directly associated with the program, generating a significant number of advanced engineering and high-tech jobs in the aviation and Defence advanced technologies sectors, particularly in Brisbane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn addition to the direct engagement with Boeing Defence Australia, our investment will see the program expand to support engagement of an additional 46 Australian companies, alongside international partners and allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis will result in the number of businesses engaged in this program growing from 35 to 81 companies, along with many more highly-skilled jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis investment in world-leading technology further advances Australia\u2019s first-mover status in a highly competitive industry and establishes the Loyal Wingman Program as a serious competitor in key export markets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minister Dutton said the rapid development of uncrewed air combat capability could offer potential benefits for allies and partners in the region and around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy sharing technology and leveraging the expertise of our US partners, the MQ-28A aircraft will be interoperable with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region ensuring that our combined air combat forces are enhanced and stand ready to defend Australia and its national interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MQ-28A aircraft first flight took place in February 2021, just two years and three months from project commencement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A second aircraft has joined the flight test program, with a third aircraft being readied for flight testing later in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The speed of this development and the demonstrated potential of the Airpower Teaming System aircraft has given the Morrison Government confidence to continue investment in the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen Labor were last in government they delayed the acquisition of fighter jets for our air force and reduced the capability of the RAAF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Coalition has restored funding, partnered with industry, delivered real job opportunities and enhanced Australia\u2019s defence capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is another example of the Coalition\u2019s commitment to delivering Defence funding and enhancing the capability and lethality of the Australian Defence Force.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Royal Australian Air Force\u2019s Air Combat capability will be bolstered with the addition of uncrewed autonomous systems as part of the Morrison Government\u2019s additional investment of $454 million in the Loyal Wingman Program. Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton, said the investment will deliver seven uncrewed autonomous aerial vehicles – recently named MQ-28A Ghost Bat … Continue reading “Morrison Government\u2019s investment in Loyal Wingman Program to strengthen Australia\u2019s air combat capability”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16660"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16661,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16660\/revisions\/16661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}