Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat has taken part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 alongside the US Air Force and allied nations, marking the first participation by the unmanned aircraft in a large multinational operational exercise.
The exercise took place around the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific and included aircraft such as the F-35A, F-35B, F-15EX, E-3 Sentry, E-2D Hawkeye, EA-18G Growler, RC-135 Rivet Joint and HC-130.
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Originally developed for the Royal Australian Air Force, the MQ-28 is also under evaluation by the US Air Force, which has used the aircraft to explore operational concepts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). During Valiant Shield, the aircraft flew with the USAF's Experimental Operations Unit, which is responsible for developing tactics and operational procedures for future autonomous systems.
The Ghost Bat is intended to operate alongside crewed fighters rather than replace them. Depending on the mission, it can carry sensors, electronic warfare equipment or other payloads, allowing crewed aircraft to remain farther from hostile defenses.
Unlike several CCA concepts that remain under development, the MQ-28 has already completed an extensive flight-test campaign in Australia.
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The aircraft uses an open-architecture mission system that enables operators to integrate national sensors and mission equipment without redesigning the platform. Boeing also says the MQ-28 can operate with current and future generations of combat aircraft, including fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation fighters.
The Royal Australian Air Force has funded most of the program since its launch in 2019, although interest from the United States has increased as the Pentagon accelerates development of collaborative combat aircraft.
