Germany Weighs MQ-28 And Valkyrie Drones For 2029 CCA

Germany is shopping for a robotic wingman that can fight, strike, think, and still find its way home if the signal goes dark.

According to United24 Media, Berlin is evaluating several unmanned aerial vehicles for a future unmanned fighter bomber program.

The goal is ambitious: an aircraft capable of air to air combat, ground strikes, and autonomous return even after losing communication with controllers. Initial operational capability is targeted for 2029.

That timeline is not generous. The runway is short. The stakes are high.

Ghost Bat On Pause As Valkyrie Advances

Earlier discussions centered on the MQ-28 Ghost Bat from Boeing, a loyal wingman concept designed to fly alongside crewed fighters and extend their reach. But those plans are reportedly on hold as Germany widens the aperture.

Now in the frame is the XQ-58A Valkyrie, developed by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. The Valkyrie has already been selected by Airbus for collaborative combat aircraft experimentation, giving it a political and industrial foothold in Europe.

A third option remains unnamed. That mystery slot has fueled speculation that Berlin may prefer an EU based solution to balance the optics of selecting American systems for such a strategic capability.

The broader context matters. Germany’s Future Combat Air System, or Future Combat Air System, has faced friction between partners, particularly with France. A parallel unmanned track could serve as leverage, insurance, or even an eventual alternative.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft As The New Normal

This effort fits squarely into the global push toward collaborative combat aircraft. Instead of one exquisite sixth generation fighter doing everything, a manned jet could command a small constellation of cheaper, semi autonomous drones. Think of it as a conductor leading a metallic orchestra at Mach speed.

Turkey’s Bayraktar Kizilelma has already conducted bomb tests, signaling that the concept of an unmanned strike fighter is no longer theoretical. The shift is practical. Remove the pilot from the cockpit, and certain missions become less politically and operationally risky, especially those supporting ground troops or striking deep behind enemy lines.

Germany’s requirement that the UAV return home even after losing communications suggests a strong emphasis on onboard autonomy and mission logic. In contested airspace, links break. The drone must not.

Quantum Systems And The Jet Target Wildcard

Meanwhile, Quantum Systems, working with Airbus Defence and Space, has revealed the RAT or Red Air Target, a jet powered target drone reportedly developed from concept to first flight in six weeks.

While designed as a target system, rapid jet development hints at industrial agility. In a race to field operational capability by 2029, speed of iteration may matter as much as raw performance.

DroneXL’s Take

Germany’s 2029 target is aggressive, especially for a platform that must blend autonomy, survivability, and meaningful combat capability.

If Berlin selects an American design, it gains maturity and flight hours. If it bets on a European solution, it strengthens sovereignty but assumes more technical risk. Either way, the age of the lone fighter pilot is fading. The future cockpit may command a formation of silent partners, each one expendable, networked, and increasingly intelligent.

The real question is not whether Germany will field a robotic wingman. It is how much independence and firepower that wingman will be trusted to carry.

Photo credit: Boeing, Kratos and Quantum Systems.