Germany Accelerates Path to CCA with Rheinmetall and Boeing
The German Air Force is accelerating its path to acquiring Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities with the help of Rheinmetall and Boeing. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a mature platform developed by Boeing, has already undergone previous flight tests that show it meets Germany's requirements for both air-to-ground and air-to-air operations.
Rheinmetall is contributing as system integrator to ensure the accelerated build-up of CCA capabilities in Germany. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat offers a realistic development and test environment for cooperation between manned and unmanned aircraft, allowing the German Air Force to further develop procedures and tactics.
Glen Ferguson, Global Director of the MQ-28 program, emphasizes that if Germany wants to achieve CCA capability by 2029, work must begin today with the development of tactics, training, definition of force structure, and integration of sovereign technologies. A digital twin is being used to continuously further develop the MQ-28.