Exercises Valiant Shield 2026
Valiant Shield 2026 (VS26) is a biennial, high-intensity multinational field training exercise. Initially launched in 2006 as a unilateral, U.S.-only military drill, it evolved in 2024 into a major multilateral platform to seamlessly integrate allied combat forces across sea, air, land, space, and cyberspace.
Nations Involved:
- Lead Nation: United States.
- Core Participating Allies: Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Key Features:
- Conducted across Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Japan, and surrounding waters including the Philippine Sea and Mariana Islands Range Complex.
- Deploys the Typhon Missile System and HIMARS at Japan’s Kanoya Air Base to conduct anti-ship warfare and precision strike exercises.
- Includes testing of Australia’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat, an AI-enabled autonomous collaborative combat aircraft (loyal wingman drone).
