---
title: "Rheinmetall partners with Boeing to compete for the German military's Loyal Wingman program with the MQ-28"
type: "News"
locale: "zh-CN"
url: "https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/281294504.md"
description: "Rheinmetall of Germany is collaborating with Boeing of the United States to participate in the German Air Force's Loyal Wingman program with the MQ-28 \"Ghost Bat\" unmanned combat aircraft, aiming for service by 2029. Rheinmetall will be responsible for integrating the MQ-28 into Germany's command and weapon systems, facing technical and demand challenges. Competitors include Airbus's XQ-58A \"Valkyrie\" and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' YFQ-42A prototype. The MQ-28 has completed 150 flight tests and possesses high mission flexibility, capable of executing various combat missions"
datetime: "2026-04-01T03:20:49.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/281294504.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281294504.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/281294504.md)
---

> 支持的语言: [English](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281294504.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/281294504.md)


# Rheinmetall partners with Boeing to compete for the German military's Loyal Wingman program with the MQ-28

German Rheinmetall recently officially announced a strategic partnership with American Boeing, preparing to compete for the German Air Force's Loyal Wingman program with the MQ-28 "Ghost Bat" unmanned combat aircraft as the core.

This collaboration not only symbolizes the deep alliance between the defense industries of Germany and the United States but also aims to have this Loyal Wingman officially enter service with the Bundeswehr by 2029.

According to Rheinmetall's plan, in this cooperation framework, they will play a key role as the "system integrator," responsible for deeply integrating the MQ-28 into Germany's existing and future command and weapon systems.

This mission is highly challenging, as Rheinmetall must ensure that this drone, derived from Australian technology, fully meets the specific needs of the German military while also coordinating subsequent operational maintenance and logistics support systems. For Rheinmetall, this is not only an introduction of technology export but also an excellent opportunity to establish a foothold in the drone integration field.

However, this large-scale project for the German Air Force has also attracted the attention of competitors. A team formed by Airbus and American Kratos is actively promoting the XQ-58A "Valkyrie" drone.

Earlier this year, Airbus stated that they are prepared to test the "Valkyrie" equipped with a European autonomous mission system within this year to showcase its technological advantages.

At the same time, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is also participating in the competition with its YFQ-42A prototype, emphasizing that through a collaborative model with its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Germany, it can provide solutions that combine technological leadership with local support.

Finally, the German startup technology company Helsing may also join the fray with its CA-1 autonomous drone, becoming a local dark horse in this bidding process.

The advantage of the MQ-28 "Ghost Bat" lies in the fact that it has completed over 150 flight tests under the Royal Australian Air Force's system, making it one of the few mature autonomous CCA solutions on the market.

Rheinmetall emphasizes that the modular design of the Ghost Bat grants it high mission flexibility, whether serving as a scout, executing electronic warfare missions, or directly carrying weapons for coordinated strikes, it can act as a "force multiplier," assisting manned aircraft in surviving in highly contested airspace.

CEO Armin Papperger previously revealed to investors that Germany's future demand for such cooperative combat aircraft could reach as high as 400 units, which undoubtedly presents a significant market incentive.

Although the German Ministry of Defense currently maintains a cautious attitude towards procurement projects, emphasizing that it will not comment until parliamentary approval is obtained, as the 2029 deadline approaches, the strong partnership between Rheinmetall and Boeing indicates that competition for Europe's next-generation aerial combat systems will be very fierce.

-   Rheinmetall teams with Boeing for German Ghost Bat offer

（Image source: Boeing）

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