Gray Flag 2026 naval exercise tests multi-domain integration

The Gray Flag 2026 naval aviation test event concluded on September 25 at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu. As the largest iteration to date, the exercise involved more than 3,000 participants from over 150 organizations, logging more than 2,000 flight hours across 750 sorties.

The event focused on testing the integration of aircraft, weapons, communication systems, and networks to ensure multi-domain interoperability. Participating forces included the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Royal Air Force.

A notable highlight included a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet from No. 1 Squadron being photographed carrying an inert AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). This marks the first time an RAAF aircraft has been seen with the new missile following Australia's recent procurement announcement. The test utilized the 36,000-square-mile Point Mugu Sea Range to evaluate how sensors and weapons interact within complex kill chains.