Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Flies at Valiant Shield
What happened at Valiant Shield 2026?
Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat flew at Valiant Shield 2026 in June, becoming the first and only collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) deployed to a multinational, joint operational exercise. The Australian-developed uncrewed aircraft operated alongside U.S. Pacific Command forces near the Marianas Island Range Complex in the Western Pacific.
The exercise included crewed platforms such as the F-35A, F-35B, F-15EX, HC-130, E-3, E-2D, EA-18G, and RC-135. Forces used the exercise to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures around CCA integration, according to Mirage News.
What is the MQ-28 Ghost Bat?
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft built by Boeing Defence Australia. It is designed to team with 4th, 5th, and 6th-generation crewed aircraft to extend their reach and awareness in contested environments.
Boeing's product page lists the aircraft's key specs: 38 feet long, a wingspan of 24 feet, a range of more than 2,000 nautical miles, a top speed of up to Mach 0.9, and a service ceiling above 40,000 feet. Boeing says it costs roughly one-tenth of a crewed platform by design.
Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Flies at Valiant Shield
Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat flew at Valiant Shield 2026, marking the first time a collaborative combat aircraft participated in a multinational, joint operational exercise.
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