Germany is exploring the possibility of acquiring the MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned fighter from Australia. The procurement process for such a loyal wingman platform is expected to be unconventional, but similar to recent approaches used for other UAV acquisitions.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the interest in the Australian system, according to Politico. He emphasized that the procurement approach would be flexible and move away from traditional long-term contracts.
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As an example, he referred to recent purchases of strike UAVs, where capabilities were first tested in real conditions rather than evaluated on paper or through demonstrations. Further procurement decisions were then made step by step.
From Defense Express, it should be noted that Politico presents this interest in Australian equipment as a potential shift in German policy, which has traditionally relied on weapons from Europe and the United States. While this interpretation has some merit, there are important nuances.
The MQ-28 was developed by the American company Boeing under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Although development and production are currently focused on Australia, interest from the U.S. Navy remains.
Germany is also considering multiple options for its future unmanned fighter-bomber role. This includes the possible procurement of an off-the-shelf foreign system that would later be adapted to European requirements.
One such option is the XQ-58A Valkyrie developed by the U.S. company Kratos, for which Airbus plans to integrate European software and mission systems. At the same time, there are domestic projects, such as the CA-1 Europa developed by Grob and Helsing.
The Ghost Bat had previously been considered a frontrunner in Germany's selection process. However, a decision was made to reassess three available options. Two of them are the MQ-28 and the XQ-58A, while the third remains undisclosed.
Australia has also expressed interest in integrating European weapons into the MQ-28. While this was initially seen as preparation for potential sales to the United Kingdom, it may also relate to Germany, which jointly produces long-range air-to-air missiles such as Meteor with the UK.
Another advantage of the MQ-28 is that it has already completed a live firing of an AIM-120 missile against an aerial target and has entered production for Australia. However, no final decision has been made, and Germany may ultimately select a different option.
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