The strategic alliance between Boeing and Rheinmetall to deliver the MQ-28 Ghost Bat to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) represents the central commitment of both companies to incorporate a new collaborative combat drone before 2029. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, the Luftwaffe, Boeing, and Rheinmetall, along with the collaborative combat drone concept, form the key elements of the program that seeks to equip the Bundeswehr with autonomous and modular capabilities in an increasingly demanding operational environment.
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat was designed, developed, and manufactured in Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and other allies, accumulating more than 150 flights since the program’s inception. The platform is conceived as a collaborative combat aerial vehicle capable of operating alongside manned aircraft, generating critical mass in contested airspace and expanding the range of possible missions through a modular architecture that supports reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and weapons systems integration.
Under the agreement, Rheinmetall will assume the role of system manager for the MQ-28 in Germany, with responsibilities for integrating the drone into the Bundeswehr’s existing and future command and weapons systems. The company will also adapt the aircraft to national requirements and ensure operational, logistical, and maintenance support, while simultaneously strengthening the local industrial base related to fifth-generation aircraft and unmanned systems.
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, stated: “With Boeing Defence Australia as a partner, we are laying the groundwork for optimally adapting the MQ-28 to the Bundeswehr’s requirements.” He added that, as the system integrator, the company will ensure that integration, operation, and development come from a single source, while driving industrial value creation in Germany and Europe. Papperger estimated potential revenue for Rheinmetall in the range of “hundreds of millions of euros.”
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat’s modular design allows for continuous upgrades and accelerated expansion of its capabilities thanks to an open architecture. Within this framework, Rheinmetall will establish a dedicated digital environment in Germany, where German and Australian engineers will collaborate to test and validate software and hardware innovations, further strengthening technological sovereignty and national supply security.
Boeing Global President Dr. Brendan Nelson stated, “This is not just an alliance between our companies, but between two great countries, Germany and Australia, that share a similar strategy for integrating collaborative combat aircraft into their air forces.” In his statement, he emphasized that the cooperation will allow the German industrial base to leverage years of Australian investment and innovation to deploy and evolve the platform for the Bundeswehr.
The German program is directly related to the Australian government’s decision to proceed in 2024 with the acquisition of three MQ-28 Block II Ghost Bat drones for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Australian Ministry of Defence has allocated approximately $400 million to produce and develop the system, designed to complement manned and unmanned platforms through the use of artificial intelligence. This project, initially named Loyal Wingman, officially adopted the designation MQ-28 Ghost Bat in 2022 and forms the technological basis upon which Germany seeks to accelerate the incorporation of a Combat Air Carrier (CAC) capability by 2029.
*Images for illustrative purposes only.
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