Rheinmetall will play a lead role in Boeing’s team as the systems integration partner for German technology on the MQ-28. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat programme is led by Boeing Defence Australia and now includes partnerships with leading German aerospace companies.
Boeing said the expanded team will support German national requirements for the MQ-28 offer to the German Air Force. The partnerships will explore German sensors, communications and weapons integration.
Diehl Defence will explore weapons integration and technical support for the MQ-28. This includes integrating German weapons into the aircraft as directed by the customer, providing technical data, product support and training, and contributing software elements that support air combat chains.
Rohde & Schwarz will support the integration of mission and communications systems with other Bundeswehr command and weapon systems. Boeing said the company will also help tailor adaptations to German national requirements and provide operational, maintenance and logistical support for these systems.
“We’re bringing together the best of Australian and German innovation to be able to deliver the MQ-28 to the Luftwaffe by 2029,” said Amy List, vice president and managing director, Boeing Defence Australia. “Welcoming Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz to our team is a significant step forward — together, we’ll collaborate closely on development, testing, delivery and support to ensure maximum flexibility and German customization of this Australian-developed platform.”
Rheinmetall Chief Executive Armin Papperger said the company would act as Boeing’s strategic partner on the programme. He said Rheinmetall would be responsible for integrating the autonomous combat drone into Bundeswehr systems.
“We are grateful to be acting as a strategic partner to Boeing on this programme,” Papperger said. “As Germany’s leading supplier to the armed forces, we are taking responsibility within the Ghost Bat Germany team for the seamless integration of this autonomous combat drone into the Bundeswehr’s systems.”
“As a reliable systems manager with a strong industrial base, we guarantee expert support and technological value creation in Germany,” Papperger said. “Through this strong alliance, we are strengthening next-generation air defence.”
Helmut Rauch, Chief Executive of Diehl Defence, said the company was joining Team Ghost Bat Germany as Boeing Australia leads the offer of the MQ-28 to Germany. He said Diehl Defence intended to contribute expertise in air-to-ground weapons and guided missiles.
“At Diehl Defence, we are excited to join the Team Ghost Bat Germany, led by Boeing Australia, on the approach to offer the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) MQ-28 to our home country customer,” Rauch said. “We are keen to contribute our expertise, especially in the field of air-to-ground weapons and guided missiles, as part of the solution for the current and upcoming challenges and requirements of the German armed forces.”
Rohde & Schwarz’s Andreas Domann said the company was focused on secure, resilient and interoperable communications for future airpower concepts. He said its work includes broadband access to the combat cloud through the Networked Multipoint Array Communications System, known as NEMACS.
“Rohde & Schwarz is committed to supporting secure, resilient, and interoperable communications for future airpower concepts providing broadband access to the combat cloud with the breakthrough Networked Multipoint Array Communications System (NEMACS),” said Domann, Vice President Multidomain Directional Communications Systems Business at Rohde & Schwarz. “Through this MoU, we look forward to exploring with Boeing how our expertise in communications, data exchange, and mission systems could contribute to future Collaborative Combat Aircraft requirements, including potential MQ-28 opportunities in Germany and Europe.”
Boeing said the expanded industry team is intended to support development, testing, delivery and support for the MQ-28 offer. The company said the work is aimed at increasing German customisation of the Australian-developed platform for potential Luftwaffe requirements.
