MQ-28 Autonomous Aircraft Achieves Historic First: Live Weapon Engagement Completes Mission Milestone

Boeing and Australia’s Royal Australian Air Force have reached a significant technical milestone—the MQ-28 Collaborative Combat Aircraft has successfully executed its inaugural air-to-air weapon engagement using live ordnance. This breakthrough validates years of development in autonomous combat aviation and represents the first time an unmanned system has independently conducted a lethal engagement with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

How the Autonomous Engagement Unfolded

The exercise brought together three distinct aircraft platforms operating in perfect synchronization. The RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail airborne early-warning system, a Super Hornet fighter jet equipped with advanced sensors, and the MQ-28 itself were deployed from separate bases before linking into a unified combat network. This distributed operational model proved critical—sensors from the F/A-18F first identified and tracked the target drone, then transmitted tactical data upstream to the command authority aboard the E-7A.

The MQ-28 received positioning instructions from the E-7A controller and maneuvered into firing position. After obtaining final authorization from the airborne command center, the autonomous aircraft released its AIM-120 missile, successfully neutralizing the fighter-class target. Every engagement element—detection, authorization, repositioning, and weapon release—operated seamlessly across the three-platform network.

Why This Engagement Matters for Future Warfare

Amy List, managing director of Boeing Defence Australia, underscored the significance: “This is the first time an autonomous aircraft has completed an air-to-air weapon engagement with an AIM-120 missile, establishing the MQ-28 as a mature combat capable CCA.” The test demonstrates that the MQ-28 has matured beyond experimental prototype status into a validated weapons platform.

The collaborative engagement model showcases modern air combat evolution—human operators maintain command authority while autonomous systems execute tactical maneuvers and targeting solutions. The engagement involved coordination between Boeing, RAAF, the U.S. Air Force, and defense industry partners, confirming this technology pathway has international backing and operational credibility.