MQ-28A Ghost Bat Makes Exercise Debut at Valiant Shield 26, Flying Alongside F-15EX and Completing FARP Refueling

MQ-28A Ghost Bat Makes Exercise Debut at Valiant Shield 26, Flying Alongside F-15EX and Completing FARP Refueling

Australia's MQ-28A Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft made its official multinational exercise debut at Valiant Shield 26, marking the first time a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) has been demonstrated operating alongside manned platforms in a multilateral environment.

The 10-day exercise concluded prior to a public announcement by Australia's Department of Defence on 10 July 2026. Led by the United States, it involved Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand, with coalition forces testing capabilities across maritime, air, land, space, and cyber domains throughout the Western Pacific.

Ghost Bat Steps onto the International Stage

Built by Boeing Defence Australia, the Ghost Bat flew alongside U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II fighters at Rota International Airport in the Northern Mariana Islands as part of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations. Australia's participation was coordinated through a U.S.-led program, with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) contributing observers and logistical support.

A highlight of the unmanned aircraft missions was a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) exercise, in which a U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II landed and transferred fuel directly to the Ghost Bat. The drill was designed to validate the aircraft's ability to operate independently from forward austere airfields located close to the battlespace and far from main operating bases.

Australia's Force Contributions

Approximately 80 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were deployed across Guam, Japan, Hawaii, and aboard vessels operating with a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft were also deployed to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.

Air Commodore Peter Robinson, Director of Operations at Air Combat Command, said the exercise offered valuable exposure to emerging capabilities.

"ADF personnel brought seasoned technical and operational expertise to Valiant Shield 26, particularly in anti-submarine warfare and airborne battle management," Robinson said. "The value of Valiant Shield 26 lies not only in the interoperability it demands, but in the exposure each nation gains to the emerging capabilities others bring to the table."

Sinking Exercise Caps the Drills

The exercise culminated with the sinking of the decommissioned vessel USS Juneau in the Philippine Sea.

RAAF armament technicians loaded two Australian-supplied AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles onto a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon — the first time an RNZAF P-8A has fired Harpoon missiles in a sinking exercise. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force contributed a torpedo strike against the target vessel, while a U.S. Air Force B-2A Spirit stealth bomber launched an AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

U.S. Navy Admiral Jay Clark, who presided over the exercise, said the drills demonstrated the alliance's collective strength.

"After 10 days of high-intensity, top-tier combat operations, Valiant Shield has shown that our alliance is not just a partnership on paper — it is a powerful and unified force," Admiral Clark said.

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