Boeing’s Ghost Bat Flew with F-35 and More in Pacific Exercise

Boeing’s Ghost Bat Flew with F-35 and More in Pacific Exercise

Boeing’s MQ-28 Collaborative Combat Aircraft flew with multiple F-35 variants as well as battle management aircraft during a recent major Pacific exercise, the contractor announced this week. Exercise Valiant Shield 26, which took place June 22 to July 1 t, spanning Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Japan, marked the first time the U.S. Air Force included a CCA drone in a large-scale, joint multinational exercise. In a release, Boeing sai…

MQ-28A Ghost Bat makes exercise debut at Valiant Shield

Australia’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat has made its debut in a major international exercise during Valiant Shield 2026, demonstrating for the first time how collaborative combat aircraft can integrate with crewed platforms in a multinational setting. The 10-day exercise, which concluded ahead of the Australian Department of Defence’s announcement on July 10, 2026, was led by the United States with participants from Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand…

F-15EX Returns to Pacific

JULY 9, 2026 – Eglin Air Force Base’s own 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron once again deployed to Kadena Air Base, June 29, bringing the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-15EX Eagle II. Building on last year’s Resolute Force Pacific deployment, this gave the 18th Wing Airmen another chance to train with and plan for the aircraft that will eventually replace its F-15 fleet. “Building familiarity with the aircraft now will help ensure a smooth tr…

F-15EX Eagle II returns to Pacific as Kadena Airmen prepare for future fighter transition and train with MQ-28 Ghost Bat

The activity built on last year’s Resolute Force Pacific deployment. It gave Kadena’s Airmen another opportunity to train with and plan for the aircraft that will eventually replace the base’s F-15 fleet. “Building familiarity with the aircraft now will help ensure a smooth transition as the Eagle II becomes part of Kadena’s long-term mission and strengthens combat readiness across the Indo-Pacific,” said Lt. Col. Casey Watts, 85th TES commander…