Ah, found a link off of yours ORAC. It seems that upcoming EASA Regs put the kibosh on it, as well as the cost. So is "Certifiable Predator B" an expected beneficiary of Brexit? Supposing the exit deal requires us to conform to those EASA Regs too? What then?
Germany is leaving a large drone programme for the second time
After the cancellation of Germany’s Euro Hawk programme in 2013, the German government has advanced plans to cancel its second drone programme. This programme involved the purchase of four Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high altitude/long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
On 28 January 2020, the German government revealed not to go ahead with the MQ-4C Triton, but to buy the Special Mission Global 6000 aircraft to fulfill the role originally destined for the Triton. The main reason for this is Germany's awareness of future European airspace regulations for unmanned aircraft, which will come into effect by 2025. These new regulations will most probably limit the use of unmanned aircraft in European airspace. Germany's reservations on the subject were confirmed, when NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) fleet of MQ-4D UAVs were given tight restrictions over Europe. A secondary reason for cancelling the Triton is the highly increased cost of the programme.
In light of these developments, a manned aircraft in European airspace can (and will) be much more effectively used. The German government will have to decide soon if it wants the Global 6000 as its platform; Bombardier will soon stop its current manufacturing run of the type, as it will be phased out in favor of an upgraded version.
The exact modifications for the Global 6000 have not yet been revealed. The concept is known to have various different options for its specialized task.