The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat made its public debut at the Farnborough Airshow after participating in Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 over the Marianas Island Range Complex. Boeing said the uncrewed CCA flew alongside F-35A and F-35B aircraft and completed a live-fire test using an AIM-120 AMRAAM to destroy a target drone. The platform is designed for surveillance and electronic warfare, with a range above 2,000 nautical miles and a ceiling above 40,000 feet. Its appearance highlights industry momentum toward human-led drone wingmen and networked crewed-uncrewed operations.
Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Debuts at Farnborough, Demonstrates Combat Capability in Valiant Shield
A Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat prepares to conduct a taxi test during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026, June 21, 2026. (Senior Airman Adrien Tran/U.S. Air Force)
Beneath an unseasonably warm London sun, visitors at the Farnborough Airshow inspected a sleek, grey aircraft whose smooth lines might be mistaken for a small manned fighter. But the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat requires no pilot: it is a flight-ready, uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) on static display.
Operational Debut
The Ghost Bat's appearance at Farnborough follows a significant operational milestone. In June, Boeing said the aircraft flew alongside crewed fighters over the Marianas Island Range Complex in the Western Pacific during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026. The CCA reportedly operated in concert with F-35A and F-35B jets and other coalition aircraft as forces refined joint tactics.
Live-Fire Demonstration
Boeing also highlighted a successful live-fire demonstration in which the Ghost Bat launched an AIM-120 AMRAAM to destroy a target drone. The company said the aircraft was integrated with U.S. Pacific Command elements to support the U.S. Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit during those exercises.
"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 and enhances joint force operations," said Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "We've proven that it's combat capable."
Capabilities And Design
Boeing positions the Ghost Bat as a multi-mission support platform for crewed aircraft, performing surveillance, electronic-warfare and other support roles. The company cites a range greater than 2,000 nautical miles and a service ceiling above 40,000 feet. Boeing describes the aircraft as having "the length of a trainer and the full wingspan of a modern stealth fighter," reflecting a compact fuselage paired with a broad wing to balance performance and payload.
Industry Context
The MQ-28 is part of a broader industry push toward crewed-uncrewed teaming. At Farnborough, BAE Systems showcased a helmet designed to help pilots manage increased data flows when controlling drone wingmen — fleets of uncrewed aircraft supervised by human crews. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force in June awarded CCA contracts to Anduril for the FQ-44A "Fury" and to General Atomics for the FQ-42A; models of both were displayed at the airshow.
The Ghost Bat's public debut at Farnborough and its participation in multinational exercises underscore growing momentum for networked operations that pair human pilots with autonomous or semi-autonomous systems.
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