A production representative test aircraft of the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat is integrating with crewed fighter platforms during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, marking the uncrewed system’s first known participation in a multinational large-force military exercise.

The deployment, announced by Pacific Air Forces on June 24, 2026, allows the joint force to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures for uncrewed-crewed teaming in the Indo-Pacific theater. The aircraft underwent preflight checks and taxi tests at Rota on June 21, 2026, ahead of defensive and offensive counter-air missions alongside U.S. and allied forces.

Operational integration and human-machine teaming

The integration of the MQ-28 into Valiant Shield represents a milestone in the operational development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The exercise provides a testing ground for human-machine teaming, a concept central to future air combat strategies being developed by the Department of the Air Force and allied partners.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Pesich, the Experimental Operations Unit collaborative combat aircraft detachment officer in charge, emphasized the strategic value of the deployment in the official announcement.

“By advancing human-machine teaming, we are increasing our power projection while building a more resilient, capable, and lethal joint force,” Pesich said.

While the exact command-and-control arrangement for the MQ-28 during the exercise was not explicitly detailed, Pacific Air Forces noted that a human remains in the loop for all critical decisions. The exercise pairs the uncrewed platform with traditional crewed assets to test the practical application of autonomous systems in a contested environment.

Preceding flight tests and stealth validation

The Valiant Shield deployment follows a series of recent testing milestones for the Boeing Defence Australia-developed aircraft. On May 27, 2026, Boeing announced the MQ-28 had completed three operational flight tests at the Point Mugu Sea Range at U.S. Naval Base Ventura County in California.

These flights marked the aircraft’s first international operation in allied airspace, validating its autonomous operations and rapid deployment capabilities. Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 global program director at Boeing, stated the Point Mugu activity was designed to mature the aircraft and demonstrate operations from allied locations to inform future exportability.

Subsequently, on June 1, 2026, Boeing confirmed it had validated the stealth performance of the MQ-28 through radar cross section testing. This testing verified the effectiveness of the aircraft’s design and material choices in minimizing radar detection, a critical requirement for the defensive and offensive counter-air missions it is tasked with simulating during Valiant Shield.

AirPro News analysis

We view the rapid succession of the Point Mugu flight tests, radar cross section validation, and subsequent deployment to Valiant Shield as a clear indicator of the accelerating pace of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. Moving a production representative test aircraft from a controlled test range in California to a complex, multinational exercise in the Mariana Islands within a single month demonstrates high confidence in the platform’s baseline autonomy and logistical footprint. The emphasis on human-in-the-loop decision-making during Valiant Shield suggests the current focus is on refining the tactical interface and communication links between crewed fighters and uncrewed assets, rather than testing fully autonomous kinetic combat capability.

Sources: Pacific Air Forces

Skyryse and Robinson Helicopter Company have entered a formal partnership to develop a Group 4 unmanned aircraft system for defense applications, integrating the SkyOS fly-by-wire system into the Robinson R66 platform. The June 24, 2026, announcement builds on a series of technical and financial milestones for El Segundo, California-based Skyryse, including a $300 million Series C funding round and the commencement of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for-credit flight testing earlier in the year.

The core of this technology is the Skyryse One, a heavily modified Robinson R66 that replaces traditional mechanical flight controls with a digital operating system. According to company publications, the integration of SkyOS is designed to reduce pilot workload and introduce automated safety features to the light helicopter market.

Replacing Mechanical Controls with SkyOS

In technical documents published by Skyryse, the company detailed the extensive modifications required to convert a standard Robinson R66 into the Skyryse One. The retrofit removes more than 100 traditional mechanical parts, including pull tubes, hydraulic systems, the cyclic, the collective, and anti-torque pedals. These are replaced by a single control stick and dual touchscreens.

By eliminating these mechanical linkages, Skyryse states the fly-by-wire system removes 324 potential failure points from the aircraft. The underlying Rolls-Royce RR300 turbine engine remains unchanged from the standard R66, which was originally certified by the FAA in 2010.

The SkyOS system introduces several automated flight capabilities. These include dynamic envelope protection, hover assist, and automated autorotation. Skyryse previously demonstrated the automated autorotation capability in 2023, setting a recognized world record for the maneuver.

Skyryse has set an introductory price of $1,800,000 for the Skyryse One, compared to approximately $1,400,000 for a standard Robinson R66 equipped with optional upgrades. The company anticipates the Skyryse One will be the only helicopter capable of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations priced under two million dollars.

Expanding into Defense with Group 4 UAS

The June 2026 partnership between Skyryse and Torrance, California-based Robinson Helicopter Company pivots the SkyOS technology toward military applications. The companies are collaborating to produce a Group 4 unmanned aircraft system (UAV) based on the R66 airframe.

The uncrewed platform is intended to support a variety of military missions, including collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) operations, air-launched effects (ALE), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) profiles.

“Defense agencies need autonomous aircraft that are reliable, affordable and available now, not years from now. Robinson gives us the production infrastructure to deliver at scale and at a cost point that meets real-world, time-critical needs.”

David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, noted in the joint press release that manufacturing the SkyOS-powered UAS represents a natural extension of the manufacturer‘s core competency in producing reliable aircraft at scale.

FAA Testing and Series C Funding

The defense partnership follows significant regulatory and financial progress for the civil Skyryse One program. On February 17, 2026, Skyryse announced it had received approval to enter for-credit flight testing with the FAA. This marks a critical phase in securing a supplemental type certificate for the modified aircraft. The company previously received a Special Airworthiness Certificate for the first Skyryse One in October 2024.

Coinciding with the FAA testing milestone, Skyryse announced the closure of a $300 million Series C funding round in February 2026. The capital injection brought the company’s valuation to $1.15 billion. Skyryse stated the funds will be used to advance FAA certification efforts and scale the deployment of the SkyOS system.

AirPro News analysis

We note that adapting a certified, mass-produced light helicopter like the Robinson R66 into a Group 4 UAS offers defense agencies a lower-risk, lower-cost alternative to clean-sheet military drone programs. By leveraging Robinson’s established manufacturing infrastructure, Skyryse can bypass the production scaling challenges that typically hinder aerospace startups attempting to build new aircraft from scratch.

The dual-track approach of pursuing civil FAA certification for the piloted Skyryse One while simultaneously developing a military UAS provides the company with diversified revenue potential. If Skyryse successfully certifies the fly-by-wire system for general aviation, the removal of complex mechanical linkages could fundamentally alter maintenance schedules and operational costs for light helicopter operators. The $400,000 price premium over a standard R66 will likely be weighed by operators against the promised safety enhancements and the rare inclusion of IFR capabilities in this weight class.

Sources: Skyryse Technical Comparison

Airbus Helicopters delivered the first H145M to the Kingdom of Belgium on June 24, 2026, at its Donauwörth, Germany facility, while concurrently announcing that the nation has exercised options for three additional aircraft to bring its total fleet order to 20.

In a press release issued by Airbus, the manufacturer confirmed the delivery marks a major milestone in modernizing Belgium’s defense and law enforcement aviation capabilities. The original procurement contract, facilitated through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in 2024, initially covered 15 helicopters for the Belgian Armed Forces and two for the Belgian Federal Police. The three newly exercised options are designated for the Federal Police, finalizing the 20-aircraft fleet structure.

Fleet expansion and delivery details

The handover ceremony in Donauwörth solidifies Belgium’s commitment to the multi-role platform. Thomas Hein, Head of Europe Region at Airbus Helicopters, emphasized the significance of the expanded orders and the operational trust placed in the aircraft.

“This platform has become the definitive European reference for military multi-mission capabilities. Belgium’s decision to extend their fleet to 20 aircraft is a powerful testament to the deep trust placed in our team and the H145M’s ability to meet today’s evolving security challenges,” Hein stated.

Hein also noted that Airbus is honored Belgium is joining a growing community of European nations utilizing the H145M for critical operations. The global fleet of the H145 family has accumulated 8.5 million flight hours to date, providing a proven operational baseline for the new Belgian aircraft.

Technical capabilities and mission flexibility

The Airbus H145M is engineered for rapid reconfiguration to support diverse mission profiles. According to the manufacturer, operators can convert the aircraft within minutes from a light attack configuration, which includes axial ballistic and guided weapons alongside self-protection systems, to a special operations setup equipped with fast-rappelling gear.

The helicopter features advanced digital connectivity designed to integrate into networked combat environments and operate alongside uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). Power is delivered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The flight deck utilizes the Helionix digital avionics suite, which incorporates a 4-axis autopilot to reduce pilot workload during complex missions.

AirPro News analysis

We view Belgium’s decision to exercise its remaining options so early in the delivery cycle as a strong indicator of the H145M’s established reputation within NATO and European defense frameworks. By utilizing the NSPA for procurement and selecting a platform already widely adopted across the continent, Belgium ensures streamlined maintenance, training, and interoperability with allied forces. The dual-allocation strategy, splitting the fleet between the Armed Forces and the Federal Police, also highlights a growing trend among European nations to leverage single-platform economies of scale across both military and civil law enforcement domains.

Sources: Airbus