Valiant Shield 2026 Unites US and Allied Forces Across the Indo-Pacific

23 June 2026

US Navy aircraft, attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, and US Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs fly over US Navy George Washington Carrier Strike Group as it sails in formation with Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force as part of Valiant Shield 2026 while underway in the Philippine Sea, June 21, 2026. (Image credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Crowley, US Navy)

US Pacific Command joint forces, along with allied and partner forces, are scheduled to participate in exercise Valiant Shield (VS26) 2026, June 22–July 1, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Japan, and at sea around the Mariana Islands Range Complex.

VS26 is a multinational, biennial field training exercise focused on integrating interoperability training in a multi-domain environment. This training builds real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, in space, on land, and in cyberspace.

Exercises such as VS26 allow forces across the Indo-Pacific the opportunity to integrate Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and allies to train in precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-axis, multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the joint and combined force. With the involvement of US Space Command and US Transportation Command, VS26 is expanding the multi-domain cross-combatant command collaboration that is required for any large-scale exercise or operation.

VS26 prepares the joint and combined force to rapidly respond to crises and contingencies across the spectrum of operations from humanitarian assistance and disaster response to armed conflict.

“Valiant Shield demonstrates our enduring commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Adm. Steve Koehler, Commander, US Pacific Fleet. “Exercising advanced multidomain capabilities with our allies ensures we continue to seamlessly innovate and operate together, project combat power together, and prevail over any challenge—together.”

VS26 assists US, allied, and partner forces in developing regional and global power projection capabilities. Integrated training provides a full range of options to succeed in defense of US interests and those of like-minded nations around the world.

This is the 11th iteration of Exercise Valiant Shield, which first began in 2006. While it began as a unilateral US exercise, Valiant Shield has evolved with demands of the security environment, incorporating new technology and strategies to further enhance the lethality of the joint fighting force. Since 2024, Valiant Shield has become a multilateral joint field training exercise to further integrate allies and partners in the multi-domain environment. This iteration of Valiant Shield marks the second time the Japan Self-Defense Forces has heavily integrated in Valiant Shield planning and execution.