- Boeing and Rheinmetall are positioning the MQ-28 Ghost Bat as a mature platform for Germany’s planned collaborative combat aircraft capability
- Rheinmetall plans to establish independent MQ-28 system integration in Germany
- The companies say the platform could help Germany accelerate manned-unmanned teaming capabilities while building domestic expertise for future CCA programs
Boeing and Rheinmetall are positioning the MQ-28 Ghost Bat as an immediately available platform for Germany to accelerate development of collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, capabilities.
How Are Boeing & Rheinmetall Approaching Germany’s CCA Requirements?
Boeing and Rheinmetall are building an industrial ecosystem with Rohde & Schwarz, Diehl Defence and HENSOLDT to support the development and integration of CCA capabilities in Germany.
Rheinmetall said the ecosystem is intended to provide Germany with a long-term domestic capability for developing and integrating relevant technologies.
Rheinmetall’s independent system integration effort would support software development, mission integration and retention of intellectual property within Germany’s industrial base. The approach could also provide a pathway for German-developed technologies to be tested and integrated on the MQ-28.
Mike Schmidt, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Business Unit Air, Uncrewed and Space, said the approach is intended to combine rapid capability development with greater national industrial independence.
Why is the MQ-28’s maturity important to Germany?
Rheinmetall said Germany could integrate sovereign sensors, weapons and mission software into the MQ-28. Rather than beginning with the lengthy development of an entirely new aircraft, the companies propose using the MQ-28 as a mature platform that can provide a foundation for German-specific capability development.
“The MQ-28 enables us to bypass the lengthy development phase of a new aircraft and go directly to the decisive task: making the capabilities of unmanned combat air systems available to the German Air Force,” Schmidt said.
The MQ-28’s existing flight-test record could allow Germany to focus more quickly on integrating national capabilities and developing operational concepts for manned-unmanned teaming.
Glen Ferguson, Boeing Defense Australia’s global director of the MQ-28 program, said the Ghost Bat has already progressed through development stages that other CCA programs are still working to complete.
“Experiences gathered in operational use to date show that the MQ-28’s architecture can be quickly adapted to new mission requirements, including air-to-ground capabilities,” he added.
What Are Other Defense Companies Doing to Advance Collaborative Combat Aircraft?
Several defense companies are developing mature uncrewed aircraft, pursuing international production partnerships and integrating sovereign mission systems to accelerate CCA adoption.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. is positioning its YFQ-42A for international customers through European industrial partnerships. The company has been exploring a European lead industrial partner and a pooled production model that could support multiple allied nations. Some prospective customers are seeking configurations similar to the U.S. Air Force’s CCA, while others are considering customized variants with sensors and weapons tailored to air-to-ground missions.
The company subsequently announced plans to combine its U.S. and German operations to develop a European version of the YFQ-42A. Under the approach, General Atomics Aerotec Systems in Germany would support European assembly and mission system integration, allowing the aircraft to incorporate European defense technologies while using a mature U.S.-developed CCA design.
Airbus and Kratos are pursuing another Germany-focused approach. The companies plan to equip Kratos’ XQ-58A Valkyrie with an Airbus mission system and deliver an uncrewed CCA capability to the German Air Force by 2029. The Airbus architecture is designed to operate across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Meanwhile, Australia is advancing the MQ-28A Ghost Bat from development toward operational service. The Australian government committed approximately $929.3 million to additional aircraft and upgrades, including six operational Block 2 aircraft and an enhanced Block 3 prototype.
