Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat operated with U.S. Air Force and allied aircraft during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, marking its first known integration into a major U.S.-led multinational exercise in the Indo-Pacific. Boeing disclosed the June flights on July 7, 2026, underscoring how the Australian-developed Collaborative Combat Aircraft is moving from testing toward operational teaming with crewed combat platforms. The aircraft flew alongside F-35, F-15EX, E-3, E-2D, EA-18G, RC-135, and HC-130 aircraft, giving U.S. forces data on deployment, sustainment, and agile combat employment. The activity highlights the growing role of autonomous systems in extending combat reach, strengthening survivability, and supporting distributed air operations across the Pacific. Read more...
Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat flies with U.S. and allied aircraft during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, marking the first integration of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft into a multinational joint exercise in the Indo-Pacific (Picture source: Boeing).