The Boeing Company (BA) has expanded its German industry consortium for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), adding Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG and Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG to pitch a customized variant of the autonomous drone to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).

Announced on June 10, 2026, at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the expanded team joins existing strategic partner Rheinmetall AG. The group aims to deliver a tailored version of the Australian-developed aircraft to Germany by 2029, integrating local sensors, communications, and weapons systems to meet national requirements.

Industry partnerships and German customization

The addition of Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz brings specific domestic capabilities to the MQ-28 platform. Diehl Defence will focus on integrating air-to-ground weapons and guided missiles. Chief Executive Officer Helmut Rauch stated the company is prepared to contribute its munitions expertise to offer the CCA to its home country customer.

Rohde & Schwarz will provide secure, interoperable communications architecture. Andreas Domann, Vice President of Multidomain Directional Communications Systems Business, highlighted the integration of the Networked Multipoint Array Communications System (NEMACS) to provide broadband access to the combat cloud.

Rheinmetall AG, which previously joined the team as a strategic partner, is tasked with integrating the MQ-28 into the broader systems of the German Ministry of Defense (Bundeswehr). Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger noted the company is taking responsibility for the seamless integration of the autonomous combat drone into existing military networks.

Upgraded MQ-28 capabilities and stealth validation

Alongside the partnership expansion on June 10, 2026, Boeing unveiled significant capability upgrades for the MQ-28. The new configuration features a wingspan increase of more than 25 percent, allowing for an additional 2,000 pounds of fuel and mission payloads.

The upgraded design includes two internal weapons stations capable of carrying munitions such as AMRAAM missiles or Small Diameter Bombs, as well as Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication links. The physical expansion follows a June 1, 2026, announcement that Boeing successfully validated the aircraft’s stealth performance and radar cross-section inside a dedicated test chamber.

“That additional capacity gives operators freedom to balance payload and endurance to configure for the mission at hand, whether that means carrying extra fuel for longer-range operations, increasing weapons carriage, or any combination of both,” said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Program Director at Boeing.

AirPro News analysis

While Boeing and its industry partners are targeting a 2029 delivery date for the Luftwaffe, we note that a formal procurement contract has not yet been finalized. According to reporting by Breaking Defense, the German Ministry of Defense has declined to comment on the timeline prior to pending parliamentary deliberations. The MQ-28 is currently competing against other European CCA concepts to fulfill Germany’s requirement for an unmanned wingman. The aggressive 2029 target suggests Boeing is positioning the Ghost Bat as a mature, low-risk option compared to clean-sheet European designs, leveraging its existing flight test history with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a localized supply chain.

Sources: The Boeing Company

The Republic of Poland officially inducted its first three Lockheed Martin F-35A Husarz aircraft into service on June 12, 2026, while simultaneously announcing plans to double its total procurement to 64 airframes.

The induction ceremony at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask marks a major milestone in the modernization of the Polish Air-Forces. According to a press release from Lockheed Martin, the 5th-generation fighters will replace the country’s aging Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-22 fleets, reinforcing NATO deterrence along the alliance’s eastern flank.

Fleet expansion and delivery timeline

During the June 12 ceremony, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz revealed that the government’s classified Armed Forces Development Program includes funding to purchase two additional F-35 squadrons. According to reporting by Breaking Defense, this acquisition of 32 additional aircraft would bring Poland’s total planned fleet to 64.

The initial three aircraft physically arrived in Poland on May 22, 2026, stemming from a $4.6 billion contract signed in January 2020. Breaking Defense reports that 14 of the original 32 aircraft are expected to be fully inducted by the end of 2026, with Deliveries for the first order concluding in 2029.

Infrastructure investments and public debut

Preparing for the F-35A required substantial facility modernization. Starting in 2022, the 32nd Tactical Air Base underwent approximately $700 million in infrastructure upgrades to meet NATO standards for 5th-generation operations. This included the construction of a highly secured Operations and Command Center.

To mark the induction, the Polish government organized a cross-country fly-past on June 12. TVP World reported that the jets flew at low altitude over prominent national landmarks, including Wawel Castle in Krakow, Westerplatte in Gdansk, and the Vistula River in Warsaw. Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk emphasized the importance of public visibility for the defense expenditure, telling TVP World that taxpayers must see what their money funds and calling the F-35 a fundamental change for the military.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President OJ Sanchez highlighted the strategic importance of the Delivery during the ceremony.

“The arrival of the first F-35 combat aircraft in Poland represents an important milestone for the nation’s defense and for regional security across Europe. Poland continues to demonstrate strong leadership within NATO through its commitment to modernization and interoperability with allied forces.”

AirPro News analysis

We view Poland’s intention to double its F-35A fleet as a clear indicator of a long-term strategic shift away from legacy Soviet hardware and toward deep integration with NATO air combat systems. Procuring 64 F-35s would position the Polish Air Force as one of the largest operators of the type in Europe. The $700 million investment in the Łask air base also suggests Poland is building the foundational infrastructure not just for its own fleet, but potentially to support allied F-35 deployments along the eastern flank if required.

Sources: Lockheed Martin

Airbus Defence and Space unveiled a comprehensive restructuring of its military drone portfolio on June 9, 2026, at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, Germany, introducing a unified naming convention and a roadmap for uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft.

In a press release issued during the exhibition, the manufacturer detailed a strategic shift to provide a full spectrum of uncrewed capabilities designed to integrate with crewed fighter jets. The announcement formalizes the company’s Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) strategy, aligning its drone products under a new “U” designation system that mirrors its established “A” for fixed-wing commercial aircraft and “H” for helicopters.

Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft development

The centerpiece of the ILA Berlin showcase is the U760 Ravenstorm, an Uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA). Airbus displayed a 1:1 scale model of the U760 Ravenstorm, which measures 13 meters in length with a 10-meter wingspan. The manufacturer expects the U760 Ravenstorm to be available in the early 2030s to operate cooperatively with crewed fighters like the Eurofighter.

To address more immediate operational requirements, Airbus is partnering with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions on the U740 Valkyrie. The company has set a target year of 2029 to deliver an operational U740 Valkyrie to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Both UCCA platforms will utilize the proprietary Multiplatform Autonomous Reconfigurable and Secure (MARS) Mission System to enable autonomous and collaborative operations in contested airspace.

Tactical drones and heavy-lift platforms

The newly branded portfolio spans from rapid-response interceptors to heavy surveillance platforms. In March 2026, Airbus completed the first demonstration flight of the U680 Bird of Prey, an uncrewed drone interceptor developed in nine months from project kick-off.

For light tactical operations, the company detailed three primary systems. The U010 Aliaca and U030 Flexrotor both weigh 25 kilograms. The U010 Aliaca carries a three-kilogram payload with a six-hour endurance, while the U030 Flexrotor supports an eight-kilogram payload and can remain airborne for 12 to 14 hours. A larger tactical option, the U050 Capa-X, weighs 120 kilograms and offers a 20-kilogram payload capacity.

At the heavier end of the spectrum, Airbus highlighted the U950 Eurodrone, a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) platform. The U950 Eurodrone is scheduled for its first flight in 2029. The company also introduced the U145, an uncrewed variant of the existing H145 helicopter.

Airbus Defence and Space CEO Mike Schoellhorn stated that the U950 Eurodrone serves as a “very high payload and very long endurance” Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) platform. Schoellhorn emphasized the strategic scope of the announcement:

“Whatever uncrewed or ‘drone’ capability our customers need to strengthen sovereign air power, we deliver. Our portfolio ranges from rapid-response drone interceptors and various tactical drones, autonomous cargo helicopters to uncrewed fighter aircraft UCCAs operating co-operatively with crewed fighter jets.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the formalization of the “U” naming convention as a clear signal that Airbus intends to elevate its uncrewed systems to the same core business tier as its commercial and rotary-wing divisions. The dual-track UCCA strategy is particularly notable. By partnering with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for the 2029 delivery of the U740 Valkyrie, Airbus secures a near-term foothold with the German Air Force while buying necessary development time for its proprietary U760 Ravenstorm targeted for the early 2030s. This approach mitigates the risk of losing market share to rapid-development aerospace startups while ensuring European air forces have collaborative mass available before next-generation crewed fighters enter service.

Sources: Airbus