One photo, two aircraft, and a very large hint about the future of air combat. On 1 July, Pacific Air Forces posted imagery of a US Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flying over the Philippine Sea in close formation with something no American fighter had been photographed alongside before: Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat combat drone.
The shots were taken during Exercise Valiant Shield 26, and according to Air & Space Forces Magazine they are the first imagery the Air Force has ever published of a collaborative combat aircraft flying with a manned fighter. When we covered the Ghost Bat’s exercise debut last week, the drone was flying alone. Not anymore.
Quick Facts: The First Eagle–Ghost Formation
| When/where | Exercise Valiant Shield 26 (22 June–1 July), over the Philippine Sea; photos published 1–2 July |
| Fighter | F-15EX Eagle II — reportedly from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB |
| Drone | Boeing Defence Australia MQ-28 Ghost Bat, flying from Rota in the Northern Marianas |
| The first | First published USAF imagery of a CCA-class drone flying with a manned fighter |
| Unknown | Whether the F-15EX actually controlled the drone — PACAF won’t discuss integration details |
| MQ-28 program | 8 Block 1 aircraft delivered to the RAAF; Block 3 with internal weapons bay unveiled June 2026 |
What Actually Happened Up There
The honest answer: the Air Force isn’t saying. PACAF states it “will not discuss specific flight operations or tactical integration details,” which leaves open the crucial question — did the Eagle’s back-seater actually command the Ghost Bat, or did they just share a piece of sky? The F-22 controlled a General Atomics MQ-20 in October 2025, and an F-35 followed in May 2026, so the technology exists. But formation photos this deliberate are not an accident. They are a message.
The reported unit matters too. The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron is the outfit that wrings out operational concepts for the combat air force — and its F-15EXs had just staged through Kadena. A two-seat fighter with huge payload, modern radar and a spare pair of hands in the back is arguably the most natural drone-controller in the US inventory.
Australia’s Drone, America’s Exercise
The MQ-28 came to Valiant Shield as a “production representative test aircraft,” flying counter-air missions from Rota with an infrared search-and-track nose — and even proving it could operate from an austere forward site refuelled by an HC-130J. Boeing has delivered eight Block 1 aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force, has nine improved Block 2s in build, and unveiled a larger Block 3 in June with an internal weapons bay. An AMRAAM live-fire took place at Woomera in December 2025.
For Washington, the exercise cameo lands mid-decision: the US Air Force’s own CCA program has the General Atomics YFQ-42A and Anduril YFQ-44A under production contracts as of June. For Canberra and Boeing, every photo of a Ghost Bat tucked under an American fighter’s wing is a sales brochure — the pairing has already been pitched to Poland alongside the F-15EX.
Why This Photo Will Age Well
The F-15EX buy is doubling to 267 jets in the FY27 budget, and the Eagle II’s pitch has always been mass: weapons, fuel, and now — perhaps — drones. A future strike package of one crewed Eagle marshalling a handful of Ghost Bats over the Pacific stopped being a concept slide this week and became a photograph.
The Ghost Bat’s Valiant Shield debut, including its Rota operations, is captured here:
Sources: Pacific Air Forces; The War Zone; Air & Space Forces Magazine; Army Recognition; The Aviationist
Related Questions
What is a collaborative combat aircraft?
A collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, is an uncrewed drone designed to fly alongside crewed fighters as a loyal wingman, carrying sensors, weapons or decoys and taking on higher-risk tasks. On 1 July 2026, US Pacific Air Forces published the first imagery of a crewed US fighter, an F-15EX, flying in close formation with Australia's MQ-28 Ghost Bat combat drone.
What is the MQ-28 Ghost Bat?
The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an uncrewed combat aircraft built by Boeing Defence Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force. At Exercise Valiant Shield 26 it flew counter-air missions from Rota in the Northern Marianas with an infrared search-and-track nose, and demonstrated operating from an austere forward site refuelled by an HC-130J. Boeing has delivered eight Block 1 aircraft to the RAAF.
Can fighter jets control drones in flight?
Yes, the technology has been demonstrated repeatedly. An F-22 controlled a General Atomics MQ-20 in October 2025 and an F-35 followed in May 2026. The US Navy is developing carrier-based loyal wingman drones too. A two-seat fighter with a spare crew member in back, like the F-15EX, is considered a natural drone controller.
Why is the F-15EX and Ghost Bat formation significant?
The 1 July 2026 photo was the first imagery the US Air Force has ever published of a collaborative combat aircraft flying with a crewed fighter, making it a deliberate signal about the future of air combat. The F-15EX reportedly came from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, the unit that develops operational concepts for the combat air force.
How does drone teaming fit into future fighter programmes?
Loyal wingman drones are central to next-generation air power, extending a crewed fighter's sensors and firepower while reducing risk to pilots. Major sixth-generation efforts are building around this concept, including Britain's GCAP programme. The F-15EX's large payload and two-seat cockpit make it an ideal near-term controller for aircraft like the Ghost Bat.
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