Elite Dangerous Operations: Co-op Missions & Nomad Ship

Elite Dangerous: Operations Update
Team Play Comes to the Galaxy

Author:

Watty
Category:

Elite Dangerous
Date:

Jul 1, 2026

Frontier released the Operations update for Elite Dangerous on 30 June, and it's the most significant addition to the game since Trailblazers introduced colonisation. Operations are a new class of structured, multi-stage missions designed from the ground up for wings. Each one plays out across several objectives, and the design assumes a coordinated team rather than a lone commander.

The update also adds the Nomad, a new ship built with surface operations in mind, and a lighting overhaul that noticeably improves stations, settlements and planet surfaces across the galaxy. Frontier has confirmed that further Elite Dangerous content is in development, on the back of one of the studio's strongest financial years to date.

"For the first time, the mission board is asking commanders to bring a wing. That changes how the game gets played, and it plays to exactly what squadrons do best."

The Exiles

Launch week had its problems. Server load caused outages in the first few days, and Frontier temporarily withdrew some operations while they stabilised the backend. As of this week the mission board is back in order and the new content is running smoothly.

Flying Operations with The Exiles

We've been running the new missions as a squadron since launch, alongside our usual BGS work and wing activity. If you're looking for a group to fly them with, you'll find us on Discord and on Inara. New commanders are welcome.

Further reading: Official Elite Dangerous news | Operations launch trailer