Full Breakdown
Boeing Unveils Block 3 MQ-28 Ghost Bat at ILA Berlin
6/11/2026, 9:33:59 AM
Background & Program Evolution
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat, Boeing’s “loyal wingman” collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), entered flight testing in 2022 under a partnership between Boeing Defence Australia and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Block 1 and Block 2 prototypes have logged more than 150 sorties and achieved the first air-to-air kill with an AIM-120 missile in December 2025. The latest iteration, Block 3, was revealed on 10 June 2026 at the ILA Berlin Air Show, where Boeing and German partner Rheinmetall displayed the upgraded platform to German and international visitors.
Technical Enhancements (Data & Statistics)
- Wing and weight: Span increased by >25 % (?7.3 m), raising maximum take-off weight from 10 000 lb to 12 000 lb.
- Payload: Useful load >4 500 lb; internal bays hold 2 × AMRAAM missiles or 4 × small-diameter bombs (SDB I/II). Provision for three external stations remains.
- Range & performance: Additional 2 000 lb of fuel extends range beyond 2 000 nm; top speed Mach 0.9; service ceiling >40 000 ft.
- Systems: Beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications enable control from aircraft, ground stations or naval vessels at unlimited standoff distances; modular missionised nose supports third-party payloads; software conforms to Government Reference Architecture open standards.
Partnership with German Industry
Boeing’s German team now includes Rheinmetall (systems-integration lead), Diehl Defence (weapons integration), and Rohde & Schwarz (mission-critical communications). The consortium aims to tailor the Ghost Bat to Bundeswehr requirements and to meet a projected 2029 in-service target for the Luftwaffe.
Official Statements & Responses
Boeing officials said the upgrades expand mission flexibility, improve interoperability with allied platforms, and will be introduced through a spiral upgrade programme available to interested customers. Rheinmetall emphasized its role as the German system-manager, guaranteeing seamless integration into Bundeswehr command and weapon networks. Diehl Defence highlighted its capacity to embed German air-to-ground weapons and guided-missile expertise. Rohde & Schwarz pledged to deliver secure, resilient communications via its Networked Multipoint Array Communications System (NEMACS) to support the “combat cloud.”
Competition & Market Context
At the same show, Airbus, General Atomics, and Helsing presented alternative CCAs—including Airbus’s U760 Ravenstorm, General Atomics’ Gambit, and Helsing’s CA-1 Europa variants—underscoring a competitive market for Germany’s forthcoming CCA contract.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
German Ministry of Defence officials declined comment on procurement status, while Rheinmetall’s Armin Papperger indicated that final contract negotiations must begin by next year to meet a 2029 delivery. No definitive timeline or budget has been disclosed, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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.” — Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 global program director
- “We’re bringing together the best of Australian and German innovation to be able to deliver the MQ-28 to the Luftwaffe by 2029,” — Amy List, vice-president and managing director, Boeing Defence Australia
- “We are grateful to be acting as a strategic partner to Boeing on this programme. 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. Through this strong alliance, we are strengthening next-generation air defence.” — Armin Papperger, CEO, Rheinmetall
- “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,” — Helmut Rauch, CEO, Diehl Defence
- “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).” — Andreas Domann, Vice President, Rohde & Schwarz
What’s Next
Boeing plans to begin low-rate production of Block 3 aircraft in 2028, with the RAAF slated for operational service in 2028. German negotiations are expected to progress through 2027, after which the first Ghost Bat for the Luftwaffe could be delivered by 2029, contingent on contract finalisation and certification.
