Construction will be starting on the $550 million facility at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, where the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone will be manufactured.

Boeing will construct the new facility to support the country’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned aerial system production.

Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct

Boeing and reportedly Queensland property and infrastructure company Wagner Corporation plans to build the centre at the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defense Precinct in Toowoomba, Queensland, with operations slated to span in the next three years.

The construction of the 9,000-square meter (97,000-foot) facility will integrate sustainable development practices, human-centric design principles, and renewable solutions.

The Australian government envisions the Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct in Toowoomba as the global epicentre of aerospace and defence development, capitalising on its strategic location for international and domestic transportation.

Boeing and local industry will be collaborating to integrate technological solutions supporting federal programs and national defence efforts.

MQ-28 Ghost Bat

Boeing’s AI-enabled MQ-28, designed as a “force multiplier” for military aircraft like the EA-18G Growler, F-35A, and F/A-18F Super Hornet, boasts a length of 11.7 meters (38 feet) and is propelled by a turbofan engine, offering a range exceeding 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 kilometers/2,300 miles) for combat and surveillance missions.

The aircraft company in collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), has developed Ghost Bat, a cutting-edge aircraft measuring 11.7 meters in length, with a range of 2,000 nautical miles, combining fighter-like capabilities with intelligence functionalities. 

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy highlighted the significant involvement of over 200 Australian companies, including over 50 small and medium enterprises, in the MQ-28A program, showcasing Australia’s defence industry as a global leader and job provider. 

The additional funding from Defence will secure 350 jobs, with more than 70% of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat program’s delivery benefiting Australian industry.

News source: The Defense Post and Australian Aviation

MQ-28A Ghost Bat image from The Defense Post