Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone Joins US Air Force in Valiant Shield 2026 Exercise

Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an Australian‑developed unmanned combat aircraft, made its first appearance in a large‑scale multinational drill during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026. The drone operated alongside U.S. Air Force units and allied forces near the Marianas Islands in the western Pacific, integrating with platforms such as F‑35A/B, F‑15EX, E‑3, E‑2D, EA‑18G and HC‑130.

The participation marked the inaugural deployment of a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) in a joint operational exercise, allowing the U.S. Air Force Experimental Operations Unit to test tactics, techniques and procedures for human‑machine teaming. Boeing highlighted the MQ‑28’s open‑mission architecture, which lets operators add sovereign sensors or payloads without redesign, and its ability to work with fourth‑, fifth‑ and sixth‑generation fighters. The demonstration supports U.S. evaluation of the system, originally funded by the Royal Australian Air Force, and showcases the potential for autonomous platforms to extend the reach and awareness of crewed aircraft in contested environments.