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F-15EX and MQ-28 drone fly together over Philippine Sea during Valiant Shield exercise
An F-15EX and MQ-28 flew together over the Philippine Sea during the exercise. PACAF released photos showing the pair and described uncrewed systems as force multipliers for human pilots.
TH
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-led exercise spanning the Indo-Pacific. The photos, taken over the Philippine Sea and posted on the official PACAF Facebook page, show the manned fighter and uncrewed aircraft in formation. PACAF stated that the images demonstrate the future of human-machine teaming in the theater.
The command added that uncrewed systems act as a force multiplier, extending the reach and effectiveness of human pilots. The MQ-28 performed a flyover during the exercise over Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on June 25, 2026.
Two days later it took part in a proof-of-concept Forward Arming and Refueling Point operation at the same location alongside HH-60W Jolly Green IIs and an HC-130J Combat King II.
F-15EX and F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron landed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on June 29, 2026. The Air Force budget for Fiscal Year 2027 outlines a planned purchase of 267 F-15EX jets. The MQ-28 has flown in Australia since 2021.
The Royal Australian Air Force has taken delivery of eight pre-production Block 1 aircraft, and Boeing is now building the first of nine Block 2 drones for the service.
