Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat makes Farnborough Airshow debut

Published Jul 22, 03:44 PM UTC

Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat, an uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), made its debut at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026. The aircraft recently became the first CCA to participate in a multinational joint operational exercise, Valiant Shield 2026, flying alongside F-35A, F-35B, and other crewed coalition jets over the Mariana Islands Range Complex in the Western Pacific. The Ghost Bat also completed a live fire demonstration, destroying a drone with an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Designed with a range of over 2,000 nautical miles and a ceiling above 40,000 feet, the aircraft supports crewed jets in surveillance and electronic warfare missions. Boeing officials emphasized the milestone as a demonstration of advanced human-machine teaming. The article also notes broader industry trends, including BAE Systems' new helmet for drone management and U.S. Air Force CCA contracts awarded to Anduril and General Atomics.