Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat has become the first collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to take part in a multinational, joint operational exercise, the company announced on July 2, 2026. The uncrewed aircraft flew during Exercise Valiant Shield in June 2026, operating alongside crewed platforms from US and coalition forces in the Western Pacific.
According to Boeing, the Australian-developed Ghost Bat combined with forces from US Pacific Command to support the US Air Force Experimental Operations Unit’s CCA integration objectives. It flew alongside aircraft including the F-35A, F-35B, F-15EX, E-3 Sentry, E-2D Hawkeye, EA-18G Growler, and RC-135, operating around the Marianas Island Range Complex.
Refining tactics for human-machine teaming
Boeing claims that the exercise enabled crews to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures for pairing crewed and uncrewed aircraft, while testing the MQ-28’s ability to deploy and integrate into a joint force. Valiant Shield is a biennial exercise focused on integrating the joint force across the air, sea, land, and cyber domains.
“Having MQ-28 participate in such a significant military training exercise is a first, and this is just the start of demonstrating how advanced human-machine teaming extends the reach and awareness of crewed platforms,” said Steve Parker, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Parker added that US, allied, and partner forces could test the aircraft first-hand after Boeing had proven it “combat capable”.
The US Air Force Experimental Operations Unit also runs operational assessments of Washington’s own CCA prototypes, the General Atomics YFQ-42A and the Anduril YFQ-44A, which are competing for an Increment 1 production decision, expected in fiscal year 2026.
Recent milestones and export push
Valiant Shield caps a rapid run of firsts for the Ghost Bat. In December 2025, an MQ-28 destroyed a target drone with a Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM in its first air-to-air missile firing. The aircraft completed its first flights outside Australia in May 2026 at Point Mugu, California, and Boeing validated its radar cross section on June 1, 2026.
Boeing is positioning the aircraft, built with open mission systems and government reference architectures, for export.
“MQ-28 Ghost Bat is the most proven, mature CCA in allied nations,” said Amy List, vice president and managing director of Boeing Defence Australia.
The Royal Australian Air Force is reported to have ordered an initial six aircraft, while Boeing and Rheinmetall have offered the type to Germany.