AviationNews – Boeing and Rheinmetall have joined forces in a strategic partnership to offer the MQ-28 Ghost Bat autonomous aircraft to the German Bundeswehr. The alliance aims to accelerate Germany’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, providing advanced “loyal wingman” capabilities for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions by 2029.
The joint initiative leverages Boeing’s mature, flight-tested MQ-28 Ghost Bat platform—originally developed in Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force—to meet the German Air Force’s requirement for uncrewed combat aircraft. Under the proposed arrangement, Rheinmetall will act as the system manager and integrator in Germany, leading mission software adaptation, national sensor integration, and maintenance support. By establishing a sovereign industrial hub alongside defense partners including Rohde & Schwarz, Diehl Defence, and HENSOLDT, the partnership guarantees German technological control while bypassing years of expensive platform development.
Designed with a modular, swappable nose payload system and an open software architecture, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat operates alongside crewed fighter aircraft using artificial intelligence. The uncrewed aircraft features a range exceeding 2,000 nautical miles, near-supersonic speeds, and low-observable stealth geometry, allowing it to execute reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike missions in contested airspace. Through a dedicated in-country digital twin environment, German engineers can integrate and test national mission systems without altering the core airframe design.
Emphasizing the industrial and strategic value of the collaboration, Rheinmetall AG Chief Executive Officer Armin Papperger stated: “With Boeing Defence Australia as a partner, we are laying the groundwork to optimally tailor the MQ-28 to the Bundeswehr’s requirements. As a system integrator, we ensure that integration, operation, and further development come from a single source while simultaneously strengthening industrial value creation in Germany and Europe.”
As air forces globally transition toward crewed-uncrewed teaming doctrines, Germany’s target for a 2029 operational CCA capability highlights the growing urgency of air defense modernization. Defense procurement officials and military leaders must now streamline system integration and training protocols to ensure autonomous aircraft smoothly enter operational service alongside existing fighter fleets.
The partnership between Boeing and Rheinmetall delivers a mature, fast-track solution for Germany’s future autonomous air power needs. By pairing a proven flight platform with sovereign domestic integration, the initiative significantly reduces development risks for the Luftwaffe. If selected, the program will serve as a foundational benchmark for collaborative combat aircraft deployment across European NATO allies.