Leading air forces worldwide are beginning the practical introduction of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), also referred to as strike-fighter drones for air-to-ground operations. This marks a shift from the concept phase toward the development of concrete military capabilities. Germany’s armed forces are also pursuing plans in this area.
With the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a mature platform is already available to support the rapid development of this capability. Previous flight tests have demonstrated the MQ-28’s ability to address German requirements for both air-to-ground and air-to-air operations.
The maturity of the MQ-28 enables Germany to begin developing sovereign capabilities, including the integration of German sensors, weapons and mission software. Boeing is continuing to invest in the development of the MQ-28, including its air-to-ground capabilities, while Rheinmetall is contributing as system integrator to support the accelerated development of CCA capabilities in Germany.
The maturity of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a key element of the approach. To date, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is described as the first and only strike-fighter drone to have participated in multinational exercises, including the U.S. military’s Exercise Valiant Shield.
“While many CCA programs worldwide are still in the concept, definition or early test phase, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat has already gone through these essential development steps,” said Glen Ferguson, Global Director of the MQ-28 program at Boeing Defense Australia.
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat also provides the German Air Force with a development and test environment for advancing procedures and tactics for cooperation between manned and unmanned aircraft.
“If the goal is to achieve such a capability by 2029, this work must begin today with the development of tactics, training, definition of force structure and the integration of sovereign technologies,” Ferguson said.
Boeing is working with Rheinmetall, Rohde & Schwarz, Diehl Defence and HENSOLDT to establish an industrial ecosystem intended to enable Germany to develop and integrate the required capabilities domestically over the long term.
Rheinmetall is taking an initial step by establishing an independent system integration capability for the MQ-28 in Germany.
“Germany does not have to choose between speed and independence. We offer a way to achieve both at the same time. 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,” said Mike Schmidt, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Business Unit Air, Uncrewed and Space.
The establishment of an independent system integration capability is also intended to support Germany’s defence industry. Software development, mission integration and intellectual property are planned to remain within the German industrial ecosystem.
This approach would allow national capabilities to be developed, tested and integrated on the MQ-28. Future CCA platforms could then benefit from the experience gained through the programme.
Using a digital twin, the MQ-28 is continuously being developed, supported by extensive flight-test data and insights from the test programme with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
“The MQ-28 Ghost Bat has been designed from the outset as an extremely adaptable platform. 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. This is not about a retrofit, but about using a modular design that is conceived from the ground up for continuous adaptations,” Ferguson said.
