Rheinmetall Bolsters MQ-28 Ghost Bat Integration in Germany Amid CCA Competition

Rheinmetall has established an independent system integration capability for the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat in Germany, marking a significant milestone in the competition for the German Air Force's collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) requirement. This move comes after the company announced its partnership with Boeing on March 31, 2026.

The MQ-28 will be integrated with national sensors, weapons, and mission software within Germany's industrial base. According to Mike Schmidt, CEO of Rheinmetall's Air, Uncrewed and Space business unit, adopting the MQ-28 would allow the German Air Force to bypass the development phase of an entirely new aircraft and move directly to fielding the capability.

Boeing has emphasized the importance of meeting a 2029 in-service target, which requires work on tactics, training, force structure, and sovereign technology integration to begin now. The company highlighted the MQ-28's modular design, which would allow air-to-ground roles to be added without requiring a retrofit.

The German industrial team supporting the offer includes Rheinmetall, Rohde & Schwarz, Diehl Defence, and HENSOLDT, which signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026. The CFSN program, under which the requirement falls, is estimated to require up to 400 aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2029.

The competition remains crowded, with other companies like Airbus, Helsing, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems offering their own solutions. Rheinmetall has also retained a separate partnership with Anduril Industries covering a European version of the YFQ-44A Fury.