Germany Drops Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Rapid Procurement Plan

Key Points:

• Germany has decided not to directly procure Boeing’s larger Block 3 MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), casting doubt on its goal to deploy uncrewed combat aircraft alongside crewed fighters by 2029.
• The German Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the procurement specifics, but the shift suggests Berlin is moving toward a more competitive acquisition process, potentially delaying operational fielding to the early 2030s.
• Boeing and Rheinmetall had planned a partnership to tailor the MQ-28 to German requirements, but Germany’s revised approach opens the door for other contenders such as Airbus-Kratos, Anduril, General Atomics-INTEC, Lockheed Martin, and homegrown designs like the CA-1 Europa.
• Germany’s CCA program aims to extend the capabilities of crewed fighters like the Eurofighter and upcoming F-35s, focusing initially on strike missions rather than air-to-air roles, but integration, certification, and regulatory challenges remain significant.
• The delay reflects the complexity of fielding operational CCAs, including integration with existing systems and airspace clearance, making the original 2029 target increasingly uncertain amid evolving requirements and technology demonstrations.