MQ-28 Ghost Bat CCA debuts in Valiant Shield 26 with IRST and coalition teaming

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft is participating in its first multinational large-force exercise (Valiant Shield 26), testing human-machine teaming with crewed fighters and coalition C2 integration. The aircraft shown is configured with a swappable nose-mounted IRST sensor, highlighting modular payload/sensor roles for CCAs in contested environments and distributed operations (ACE).