Japan, Australia to co-operate on MQ-28A to advance JASDF manned-unmanned teaming

A Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat and a RAAF F-35A are pictured at RAAF Base Tindal in 2025. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) is set to improve its understanding of manned-unmanned-teaming (MUM-T) technologies following an agreement with Australia to jointly conduct collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) activities, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has told Janes .

An MoD spokesperson said in late April that the collaboration will also allow the JASDF to gain insight into the challenges associated with operating a ‘loyal wingmen' system alongside manned aircraft.

The joint project is supported by the signing of an implementing arrangement for the Boeing MQ‑28A Ghost Bat signed on 18 April by Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Koizumi Shinjiro.

According to the ministers, the arrangement establishes a framework that allows Japan and Australia to conduct CCA‑related activities under their existing defence‑equipment and services sharing agreement signed in May 2025.

The implementing arrangement supports the JASDF's efforts to evaluate the feasibility of employing unmanned aircraft in co-ordination with manned aircraft, the MoD spokesperson said.

Under the arrangement, Japan and Australia will conduct MQ-28A-related research in Australia in Japan's fiscal year 2026. These activities are expected to include education and training related to flight-test processes, the spokesperson added.

The research framework is intended to enable the JASDF to acquire operational knowledge on the employment of unmanned aircraft alongside manned platforms and identify associated technical and operational challenges.

However, it is not yet clear when the activities will begin. The MoD spokesperson said discussions on co-ordination are currently underway. Further scheduling details are unavailable to the sensitive nature of the project, the spokesperson added.