F-15EX and MQ-28 Unveil a New Phase of Air Defense at Kadena during Valiant Shield 2026

The author paused for a moment over a photograph taken over the Philippine Sea, showing the U.S. Air Force's F-15EX Eagle II flying alongside the unmanned MQ-28 Ghost Bat. This scene, released by Pacific Air Forces on July 1, is part of Valiant Shield 2026, and the command described it as demonstrating "the future of human-machine teaming in the operational environment."

This should not be read as an exaggeration. At this point, it is not publicly known whether the F-15EX crew actually controlled the MQ-28 or if it was merely a formation flight. However, the fact that the location is the Philippine Sea and that the F-15EX arrived at Kadena Air Base on June 29 is hard to overlook when considering air defense in the southwestern front.

The F-15EX at Kadena is More than Just a Fighter Upgrade

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the F-15EX is visiting Kadena Air Base, with personnel preparing for future deployment at the base. The U.S. Air Force is said to have doubled its procurement plan for the F-15EX from 129 to 267 aircraft. This is not merely a replacement for the older F-15C, but it carries a larger payload of long-range munitions and serves as a "missile truck" to complement the F-22, F-35, and future F-47.

Kadena is located on Okinawa Island, positioned between the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and Philippine Sea. While the Maritime Self-Defense Force during the Cold War focused on defending SLOCs (Sea Lines of Communication), today’s first island chain emphasizes air superiority, electronic warfare, distributed operations, and drone control all on the same timeline. Therefore, the significance of the F-15EX cannot be measured solely by its airframe performance.

MQ-28 Demonstrates Low-Cost Combat Mass

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is an unmanned combat support aircraft from Australia and is not the production model of the CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) officially selected by the U.S. Air Force. Nevertheless, its entry into the same airspace as manned combat aircraft during Valiant Shield and its testing in an environment close to actual operations is significant. TWZ reports that the MQ-28 was also involved in the concept demonstration of forward arming and refueling points, or FARP, at Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands.

This point is crucial. The issue the U.S. military faces in the Western Pacific is not merely the large number of Chinese military aircraft. It is the limited number of bases, the vulnerability of runways, and the long supply distances. CCA has the potential to keep expensive manned aircraft away from dangerous airspace while taking on roles such as reconnaissance, decoy, electronic attack, and carrying air-to-air missiles. Of course, it remains uncertain how well it will function under communication jamming.

Practical Considerations for the Self-Defense Forces

This does not mean that Japan will immediately introduce the MQ-28. However, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force need to observe this U.S.-Australia experiment as their own issue. In the air defense of the southwestern islands, early warning aircraft, ground radar, Aegis systems on escort ships, U.S. fighter jets, and future unmanned aircraft will all be placed on the same tactical map. The delay here is not in missile range but in the speed of information fusion.

The F-15EX is a two-seat model with a large display and ample power and processing capabilities, making it well-suited for concepts that utilize the rear seat for combat management or drone control. If the F-15EX at Kadena becomes an aerial node that coordinates surrounding unmanned aircraft and distributed bases in the future, the connection procedures with the Air Self-Defense Force's E-767 and E-2D, as well as the Maritime Self-Defense Force's escort fleet, must be refined from peacetime.

Strengthening Alliances and Political Friction

This movement represents a welcome enhancement of capabilities for the U.S.-Japan alliance. Especially as the Chinese military's air and missile capabilities expand quantitatively, the idea of maintaining the combat space with only manned aircraft has its limits. The addition of unmanned aircraft to the combat mass will likely enhance the reliability of deterrence.

On the other hand, there is a different issue for Okinawa. If the F-15EX is stationed at Kadena and future unmanned operations are added, the noise, base burden, responsibility in case of accidents, and the scope of data sharing are likely to become political issues. The more the U.S. and Japan discuss "future air power," the more accountability arises locally regarding "who is controlling what."

Technological advancements strengthen deterrence, but they do not automatically enhance the transparency of alliances.

The photographs from Valiant Shield 2026 do not yet represent a completed operational concept. Rather, they serve as an interim report indicating that the relationship between manned and unmanned aircraft has moved from the experimental stage to operational exercises. The true challenge is not merely whether the F-15EX can operate the MQ-28. It is whether the bases within Japan, including Kadena, can politically, logistically, and communicatively withstand the speed of this new aerial warfare.

Main sources: Air & Space Forces Magazine (July 2, 2026), TWZ (July 2, 2026), Pacific Air Forces public release photos, Valiant Shield 2026 related announcements.