Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Upgrades Target Luftwaffe CCA Bid

Boeing unveiled significant payload and range upgrades for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft at the ILA Berlin Air Show on June 10, 2026, while simultaneously expanding its German industry team to target the Luftwaffe’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) requirement.

In a pair of press releases issued during the event, the manufacturer detailed enhancements that increase the aircraft’s carrying capacity by 2,000 pounds and announced that Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz have joined Rheinmetall in the Ghost Bat Germany industry team. The combined announcements position the Australian-developed platform as a mature contender for Germany’s goal of fielding a CCA by 2029.

Upgraded payload and combat capabilities

The newly revealed MQ-28 configuration features an increased wingspan that allows the aircraft to carry an additional 2,000 pounds of fuel, stores, and mission payloads. The upgraded design includes two internal weapons stations, each capable of holding one AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) or two Small Diameter Bombs (SDB). The aircraft is also provisioned with three external weapons stations.

Boeing also announced the integration of Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication links. This upgrade enables the MQ-28 to operate at unlimited standoff distances while controlled from a crewed aircraft, ground station, or naval vessel.

Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Program Director at Boeing, stated in the press release that the additional capacity allows operators to balance payload and endurance for specific missions.

“These features, developed in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force, will be progressively released to the fleet through a spiral upgrade program, and are available to interested allied countries,” Ferguson said.

Expanding the German industrial base

To support its bid for the Luftwaffe CCA contract, Boeing is building a localized supply and integration chain. Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz will join Rheinmetall, which announced its strategic partnership with Boeing in March 2026.

Amy List, Vice President and Managing Director of Boeing Defence Australia, noted in a company statement that the expanded team will collaborate on development, testing, delivery, and support to ensure the platform meets German customization requirements.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger stated that his company is taking responsibility for the seamless integration of the autonomous combat drone into the Bundeswehr’s systems. According to reporting by Breaking Defense, Papperger also addressed the procurement timeline during the air show.

Papperger told Breaking Defense that while negotiations with the German government are ongoing, meeting the 2029 delivery target will require entering the final stage of contract negotiations by 2027.

AirPro News analysis

We view Boeing’s dual announcements at ILA Berlin as a highly targeted strategy to overcome European preference for domestic defense products. By offering a platform that has already flown extensively with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Boeing is presenting a lower-risk path to meeting the Luftwaffe’s aggressive 2029 CCA fielding deadline compared to clean-sheet European designs.

The addition of Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz is a necessary industrial offset play. Integrating established German defense contractors ensures that a significant portion of the program’s economic and technological benefits remain within the country. This localized approach, combined with the newly announced payload and BLOS capabilities, directly addresses the operational and political requirements of the German Ministry of Defense.

Sources: Boeing Newsroom