---
title: "MQ-28 Block 3: How Boeing Turned a Recon Drone into a Stealth Killer with Internal Bays"
description: "Boeing unveiled the new MQ-28 Ghost Bat Block 3 at the ILA Berlin Air Show — a drone that has received internal weapon bays and the status of a stealth strike aircraft. 🛩️🇩🇪 The drone has already proven its ability to autonomously destroy targets beyond visual range. 🇦🇺"
date: 2026-06-12T05:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/boeing-mq-28-ghost-bat-block-3-stealth-strike-drone
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# MQ-28 Block 3: How Boeing Turned a Recon Drone into a Stealth Killer with Internal Bays

![Combat drone MQ-28 Ghost Bat Block 3 by Boeing in stealth design with internal weapon bays](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/12/boeing-mq-28-ghost-bat-block-3-stels-udarniy-bespilotnik/boeing-mq-28-ghost-bat-block-3-stels-udarniy-bespilotnik-1.webp)

At the ILA Berlin Air Show in Berlin, Boeing made a real technological breakthrough by officially unveiling the updated version of its autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle — the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Block 3. While previous modifications were positioned primarily as reconnaissance platforms, the new version radically changes the rules of the game, turning the drone into a full-fledged strike aircraft.

### Internal Bays: An Exclusive for "Stealth" Aircraft

The main engineering solution in the Block 3 version was the integration of two internal weapon bays directly into the fuselage. This is a critically important step that was previously available only to fifth-generation manned fighters. Placing missiles inside the fuselage, rather than on external pylons, allows for low radar cross-section to be maintained. Thanks to this, the drone is capable of penetrating the enemy's air defense zones while remaining practically invisible to radars.

### The World's First Autonomous Intercept

The MQ-28's ability to conduct real combat has already been proven in practice. During joint tests with the Royal Australian Air Force, the unmanned aircraft, operating in conjunction with an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, successfully destroyed an aerial target with an AMRAAM missile. This event was historic: for the first time in the world, a drone performed an autonomous intercept of a target beyond visual range.

### Powerful "Hardware" and Range Upgrade

The Block 3 modification received significant changes to the airframe and powerplant design. Engineers increased the wingspan by 25%, which allowed for the installation of additional fuel tanks. Now the drone is capable of covering a distance of more than 3,700 km at speeds of up to Mach 0.9. The maximum takeoff weight has increased to 5,400 kg, and the payload exceeds 2,000 kg.

### Beyond Line-of-Sight Control

Another strategic update was the launch of Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) satellite communication technology. This allows operators to control the UAV's actions, adjust artificial intelligence algorithms, or issue a target engagement order from an unlimited distance. The command post can be located on the ground, on board a warship, or directly on the group's lead aircraft.

### Open Architecture and the European Market

The presentation in Berlin was part of Boeing's strategy to promote the platform in the European market, specifically for the German Air Force. To implement the project, the company enlisted German defense giants Rheinmetall, Diehl Defence, and Rohde & Schwarz. A key advantage of the MQ-28 is its modular nose section with a volume of 1.5 cubic meters and open software architecture. This allows purchasing countries to load their own AI models, integrate local communication means, and connect national types of cruise missiles without deep intervention in the basic design.

It is expected that the first serial samples of the MQ-28 Block 3 will enter service with Australia as early as 2028.