Boeing, Rheinmetall push MQ-28 Ghost Bat as Germany's fast-track to collaborative combat aircraft capability
2026-08-11
defenceconnect.com.au
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Boeing and Rheinmetall are promoting the AI-powered MQ-28 Ghost Bat autonomous combat drone for Germany's collaborative combat aircraft program. The proposal involves integrating German sensors, weapons, and mission software, raising potential future risks associated with deploying AI-driven military systems, though no actual harm has occurred.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is an AI system as it is an autonomous uncrewed combat aircraft capable of complex decision-making in military operations. The article discusses its development and potential integration with German systems, which could plausibly lead to future harms related to military use of autonomous weapons. However, no actual harm, malfunction, or misuse is reported. The event is about the potential for harm rather than realized harm, fitting the definition of an AI Hazard rather than an AI Incident or Complementary Information. It is not unrelated or beneficial use, as the system is a weapon platform with inherent risk of harm.[AI generated]