Uncrewed MQ-28 was operating from the Northern Mariana Islands as part of the Valiant Shield exercises.
The US Air Force’s newest fighter has operated side-by-side with Boeing’s uncrewed MQ-28 Ghost Bat tactical jet.
In all, the MQ-28 spent 10 days operating from a base in the Northern Mariana Islands as part of the biennial US-led military drills known as Valiant Shield. The USAF had previously said the MQ-28 would “fly in concert” with crewed fighter platforms throughout the exercise.
Photos released by the service at the 1 July conclusion of Valiant Shield show the participating MQ-28 flying alongside one of the air force’s new Boeing F-15EX Eagle II fighters, tail number 20-004.
The sortie occurred over the Philippine Sea, according to the US Pacific Air Forces headquarters, “demonstrating the future of human-machine teaming in the theatre”.
“Uncrewed systems act as a force multiplier, extending the reach and effectiveness of human pilots,” the USAF adds.
The pairing with an F-15EX is significant. Although the USAF plans to first integrate the new generation of autonomous FQ-class fighters with its Lockheed Martin F-22 air superiority fighters, the F-15EX is a strong candidate to become an airborne hub for what the Pentagon calls Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs).
Like its F-15E predecessor, the twin-engined EX has a second cockpit seat. However, the Eagle II’s rear station is currently not assigned a dedicated operational purpose like the back-seat weapon systems officers who fly aboard each E-model Strike Eagle.
Boeing has pitched the F-15EX’s rear station as a hub for managing and directing groups of CCAs. The F-15E has previously controlled a Kratos XQ-58 CCA in flight during 2025 tests.
Other photos from Valiant Shield show an MQ-28 taking on fuel on the ground at a forward arming and refuelling point (FARP) intended to test concepts for generating sorties with future CCAs.
The fuel transfer was provided by a Lockheed Martin HC-130J special mission transport, which is designed to support combat search and rescue missions with in-flight tanking and ground refuelling at hastily established FARPs.
During the “proof-of-concept” FARP operation in the Northern Mariana Islands, an HC-130J from the 79th Rescue Squadron transferred fuel from one of its outboard wing-mounted fuel tanks to the MQ-28 while both aircraft were parked on the tarmac at Rota International airport.
Personnel from the USAF’s Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) participated in the drills, as did the Royal Australian Air Force, which is partnered with Boeing on MQ-28 development and is expected to be the type’s launch customer.
The EOU is a newly created unit within the US Air Force that is evaluating CCAs like the MQ-28, General Atomics FQ-42 and Anduril Industries FQ-44 and developing operational procedures for integrating the autonomous jets with existing tactical fighter squadrons.
Numerous other photos from Valiant Shield show the MQ-28 taxiing, taking off and landing from Rota.
The USAF previously said the jet would carry out a variety of missions during the exercise, including defensive and offensive counter-air operations.
The participating MQ-28 was a Block 1 test asset being used to develop the Ghost Bat into a viable combat platform.
Boeing and the RAAF are actively working on Block 2 and Block 3 models for frontline service that will incorporate a new wing shape and internal weapons bays.
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