Historic First: MQ-28 Autonomous Platform Achieves Air-to-Air Combat Victory in Joint RAAF Operation

Boeing has reached a significant milestone in unmanned combat aviation, successfully demonstrating the MQ-28 Collaborative Combat Aircraft’s ability to autonomously engage and destroy an airborne target using live weaponry. This breakthrough represents the first operational autonomous air-to-air engagement utilizing the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missile system, marking a transformative moment in modern aerial warfare capabilities.

The coordinated mission brought together multiple advanced platforms in an integrated network environment. An E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning system served as the command nexus, orchestrating the operation while maintaining custodianship of the MQ-28 throughout the engagement sequence. Simultaneously, an F/A-18F Super Hornet positioned itself as a sensor platform, detecting the fighter-class target drone and transmitting critical targeting intelligence back through the network. This layered approach demonstrated how next-generation combat systems can seamlessly share information and distribute tasks across multiple aircraft types.

The execution phase showcased the MQ-28’s autonomous capabilities in practice. Upon receiving processed targeting data, the aircraft repositioned itself into an optimal engagement geometry. After securing explicit authorization from the E-7A command authority, the MQ-28 executed the intercept and weapons release, successfully neutralizing the drone target with precision accuracy. The entire sequence validated that autonomous platforms can operate under appropriate human oversight while executing complex tactical decisions at machine speeds.

According to Amy List, managing director of Boeing Defence Australia, this accomplishment fundamentally changes the strategic value proposition of collaborative combat aircraft. “Completing the first autonomous air-to-air missile engagement with an AIM-120 establishes the MQ-28 as a fully mature, operationally capable system ready for integrated force employment,” she stated.

The operation represents collaboration across multiple stakeholders: Boeing’s engineering expertise, the Royal Australian Air Force’s operational acumen, U.S. Air Force participation, and contributions from industry technology partners. This coordinated approach reflects how modern defense capabilities require seamless integration across organizational and international boundaries to achieve revolutionary combat outcomes.