ROTA, Northern Mariana Islands, June 24, 2026 — The Boeing Defence Australia-developed MQ-28 Ghost Bat has officially begun operations alongside U.S. and allied forces during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities.
The deployment of the production-representative test aircraft comes as the U.S. Air Force continues to advance the operational testing and integration of uncrewed systems designed to work alongside crewed combat aircraft. The exercise provides a large-scale operational environment to evaluate human-machine teaming concepts and their role in future air combat operations.
MQ-28 Supporting Counter-Air Missions
Throughout the multinational exercise, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat is operating in direct coordination with crewed fighter aircraft, helping participating forces refine the tactics, techniques, and procedures required for next-generation airpower.
During Valiant Shield 2026, the aircraft is supporting a range of complex missions, with a particular focus on defensive and offensive counter-air operations. Military planners are assessing how Collaborative Combat Aircraft can enhance operational effectiveness by extending the reach and capabilities of crewed platforms.
“The future of airpower is a partnership between our greatest assets: our skilled warfighters and the technology that empowers them,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Pesich, officer in charge of the Experimental Operations Unit’s collaborative combat aircraft detachment.
“By advancing human-machine teaming, we are increasing our power projection while building a more resilient, capable, and lethal joint force,” he added.
Evaluating the Role of Collaborative Combat Aircraft
The Department of the Air Force and its international partners are using the exercise to evaluate the MQ-28’s potential as a force multiplier in highly contested operational environments.
Analysts are examining how the uncrewed aircraft can improve mission effectiveness by extending the operational reach of crewed fighters, enhancing situational awareness, and increasing survivability during complex combat scenarios.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft are designed to work as trusted teammates for manned aircraft, performing missions such as surveillance, sensor support, electronic warfare, and counter-air operations. By sharing operational tasks, these systems can help increase sortie generation rates while reducing pressure on maintenance personnel and support resources.
Human Oversight Remains Central
Despite incorporating advanced artificial intelligence and autonomous capabilities, the MQ-28 remains a semi-autonomous platform that operates under human supervision.
The Department of the Air Force has reaffirmed its commitment to the ethical development and employment of autonomous systems, emphasizing that a human operator remains responsible for all critical and lethal decisions.
This manned-unmanned teaming approach is intended to combine the strengths of human decision-making with the speed and persistence offered by autonomous technologies.
Recent Program Milestones
The Ghost Bat arrives at Valiant Shield following several important development achievements.
Earlier in June 2026, Boeing completed Radar Cross Section (RCS) testing that validated the aircraft’s low-observable characteristics, confirming its ability to minimize radar detection. The platform has also surpassed 150 test flights, including recent international operational testing conducted in California.
The aircraft is additionally progressing toward its Block 3 configuration, which will introduce a larger wing design and internal weapons bays. These upgrades are expected to improve range, mission flexibility, and overall combat capability.
Originally developed for the Royal Australian Air Force, the MQ-28 has demonstrated capabilities in autonomous operations, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare support, and integration with crewed aircraft. Previous testing has included cooperation with platforms such as the F/A-18F Super Hornet and E-7A Wedgetail.
Australian Defence Force aviator observers are also participating in MQ-28 operations during the exercise as part of Australia's efforts to further develop collaborative combat aircraft concepts alongside allied partners.
About Exercise Valiant Shield 2026
Exercise Valiant Shield is a biennial multi-domain training event focused on integrating joint and allied forces across the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise strengthens the ability of participating forces to detect, locate, track, and engage targets across air, maritime, land, space, and cyberspace domains.
The training is designed to build real-world proficiency in sustaining joint operations while improving coordination among partner nations.
For the MQ-28 program, participation in Valiant Shield 2026 serves as an important operational proving ground. Data gathered during the exercise will help shape future concepts for human-machine teaming and support the continued development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft for both U.S. and allied air forces.
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