MQ‑28 Ghost Bat to take part in Pacific’s biggest wargame, faces first high-stakes test

The United States Pacific Command has announced that the MQ‑28 Ghost Bat will take part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, marking the unmanned aircraft’s first deployment in a large, multinational setting.Held every two years since 2006, Valiant Shield is one of the Pacific’s largest joint exercises, bringing together the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Space Force alongside allies such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.The exercise spans a vast area of the Pacific and focuses on integrating forces across air, sea, land, space and cyber domains.The MQ‑28’s participation represents a step forward in manned‑unmanned teaming.The Ghost Bat will fly alongside crewed fighters in both defensive and offensive counter‑air missions, refining tactics and procedures for future combat. Designed by Boeing Defence Australia, the MQ‑28 is a stealth‑oriented, multirole drone that can fly nearly 3,200 kilometers independently and uses artificial intelligence.It can be fitted with different nose sections for roles such as infrared search and track, intelligence gathering or electronic warfare.The platform has already hit testing milestones, including teaming with Royal Australian Air Force platforms and conducting live‑fire trials with AIM‑120 AMRAAM missiles.Its ability to escort high‑value assets — airborne early warning aircraft or aerial refuelers — adds protection for force multipliers in contested environments.Last year, the Royal Australian Air Force demonstrated control of two Ghost Bats from an E‑7 airborne early warning and control aircraft.This deployment will assess how the MQ‑28 can act as a force multiplier, extending the reach, awareness and survivability of crewed aircraft.Whether controlled directly by fighter crews or by operators on other platforms, the Ghost Bat’s integration will provide valuable insights into manned‑unmanned teaming and the future of aerial combat.