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Everything You Need to Know: Season 4 Top Gun Mid-Season Update, Event Guide

August 14, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Four military personnel stand on an aircraft carrier deck in flight gear and tactical equipment, with fighter jets parked behind them and two jets flying overhead beneath a cloudy sky.

PROFILE FOR MACH 10

Ready to master the skies?

On August 18 at 12:00 p.m. UTC (4 a.m. PDT), it’s all systems go for Battlefield 6 and REDSEC with the scheduled release of the free Season 4 Top Gun Update.

Front-facing view of Rooster wearing a red flight helmet, oxygen mask, and flight suit seated in a cockpit above the clouds, with two fighter jets flying in formation behind.

As pressure mounts to secure its resources in the Pacific, NATO calls on Top Gun to deploy elite aviators across the skies in a series of crucial aerial operations against Pax Armata. Meanwhile in the Redacted Sector (REDSEC), hostile forces have hijacked US Navy sonar data, bringing an aircraft carrier crashing into the marina of Fort Lyndon for the Handler and their Quick Reaction Force to investigate.

Translation? You and your squad need to take to the skies with the best of the best.

Pilot maneuverable F-74A Seacat and F/A-81F Super Spectre aircraft in two themed game modes, Carrier Strike* and Gauntlet: Fighter Sweep, and experience the iconic return of Wake Island. Reach maximum altitude by earning and unlocking Top Gun-themed rewards in new event challenges, or head to the Store for two Top Gun bundles featuring iconic aviator Rooster and WSO Bob.

For more technical information about the Top Gun update, see our Update Notes here. Otherwise, here are a few more details about what to expect, including strategies for acing the new Event and how you — or your squadmates — can take advantage of the latest Free Trial:

Battlefield 6 Season 4 roadmap featuring pilots, new maps, weapons, vehicles, events, and mid-season content overview.

FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE AUGUST 18 - 25

Battlefield 6 promotional image advertising a free trial from Aug 18–25, with a pilot and previews of four playable maps.

From August 18-25, be the best of the best - for free.**

To celebrate the Top Gun Update launch, the free-to-play, free-for-everyone Battlefield REDSEC† will have a Battlefield 6 Free Trial featuring four maps and four playlists. For a limited time, you can command the airspace in Tsuru Reef or Wake Island, prepare to endure intense g-forces in Carrier Strike, or lead your squad to victory across additional experiences from the full Battlefield 6 game.

Simply download Battlefield: REDSEC on your preferred platform (PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X | S), grab your wingman, jump into the cockpit, and experience the adrenaline rush of Top Gun. Battlefield 6 owners can intercept Free Trial participants in those playlists as well, so get into formation with your Free Trial friends or prepare to bring those bandits down.

TOP GUN EVENT BREAKDOWN

A pilot wearing a flight helmet and oxygen mask during a high-speed maneuver, with another fighter jet banking sharply over a tropical coastline in the background.

Welcome to the Danger Zone.

The Top Gun Event, scheduled from August 18 at 12:00 p.m. UTC (4:00 a.m. PDT) to September 15 at 12:00 p.m. UTC (4:00 a.m. PDT), introduces Ace Medals, a limited-time earned “currency” that gives you more choices in accepting challenges and what rewards to unlock first.

Your mission is to collect and exchange Ace Medals for items on the Top Gun event page. At first, you can choose the order of 10 items to unlock, including Weapon Packages across multiple weapon categories, aerial Vehicle Skins, and Player Profile items. Aviators who earn enough Ace Medals to unlock all 10 items then gain access to one final exchange as a completion bonus: the “Ace Aviator” Soldier Skin.

HOW TO COLLECT ACE MEDALS

Front view of a parked fighter jet on an aircraft carrier deck at sunset, with a silhouetted pilot carrying a flight helmet walking toward the aircraft against a golden sky.

All the Ace Medals you need to unlock every event item can be earned by completing Challenges:

ACE PILOT CHALLENGES are similar to Bonus Path Challenges in previous events. The harder the challenge, the more Ace Medal tokens to earn.

BF PRO CHALLENGES are additional challenges for Season 4 BF Pro members (sold separately), meant to supplement existing challenges as alternative means to earn Ace Medals.

Lastly, while the total Ace Medals needed for Event completion is possible through gameplay alone, there are two bundles that include Ace Medals alongside other Top Gun rewards.

NEW BUNDLES CLEARED FOR LANDING

Two fighter pilots carrying flight helmets walk across an aircraft carrier deck at sunset toward parked fighter jets.

Be the danger with two new Store bundles: starting on August 18, the Top Gun: Helix Legacy bundle and Top Gun: Helix Resolve bundle are available in Battlefield 6 and REDSEC for 2,400 BFC.

Front-facing view of Rooster wearing a red flight helmet, oxygen mask, and flight suit seated in a cockpit above the clouds, with two fighter jets flying in formation behind.

Some burdens are inherited. Some are overcome. With the Top Gun: Helix Legacy bundle, you can recruit Lt Bradley "ROOSTER" Bradshaw and fly beyond your limits.

The Top Gun: Helix Legacy bundle features two new NATO soldiers with their default skins:

Lt Bradley "ROOSTER" Bradshaw - Though no longer living in his father’s shadow, Rooster is still shaped by a tragic past and a career held back for years, leaving him grounded and cautious. In the sky, however, he has embraced the mantra: "Don't think, just do." That mindset pushes Rooster further on every mission, often surprising even himself.

MSgt Aiko "KUNAI" Kamada - Born in snowy Sapporo, Aiko Kamada saw Pax's rise as a chance to return Japan's military to the world stage. She quickly carved a path in the JASDF's Air Support Operations Squadron and devoted herself to JTAC certification. Calm under pressure, her strikes are fast, surgical, and absolute.

This bundle also includes two additional Soldier Skins for Rooster, a “Golden Thread” SVDM Marksman Rifle Weapon Package, a “Brave Engage” P18 Sidearm Weapon Package, and other additional items.

Close-up of Bob wearing glasses and a military flight suit, looking toward the camera with Rooster blurred in the background.

As for the Top Gun: Helix Resolve bundle, Lt Robert "BOB" Floyd joins the squad to show: Actions speak loudest when the pressure is highest.

The Top Gun: Helix Resolve bundle features two new NATO soldiers with their default skins:

LT Robert "BOB" Floyd - At first, Bob hardly stands out among his loud and brash Top Gun classmates. Humble and friendly, he approaches every situation with quiet confidence and determination. Over time, Bob has proven himself to be an exceptionally talented Weapon Systems Officer, earning the respect of everyone around him.

Cpt Chris "VORTEX" Del Aguila - Chris “Vortex” Del Aguila joined the Air Force at nineteen and earned his maroon beret after surviving the Pararescue pipeline. He went on to serve as a "Guardian Angel” with the 38th Rescue Squadron. Vortex proved himself via HALO drops, extractions, and firefights that would have pushed others to their breaking point but that left him only more eager to serve.

This bundle also includes two additional Soldier Skins for Bob, a “Measured Cadence” PS5A3 SMG Weapon Package, a “Reliable Triple Burst” M16A4 Assault Rifle Weapon Package, and other additional items inspired by Top Gun’s legacy.

FIVE TOP GUN EVENT TIPS AND TRICKS

Close-up of a fighter pilot seated in a cockpit wearing a red flight helmet, oxygen mask, and flight suit, giving a thumbs-up gesture.

FLY FAST OR CONSERVE YOUR FUEL. The Top Gun Event is designed for everyone to soar no matter the speed. Take it to the max by racking up Ace Medals on day one, or use all four weeks to pace yourself and earn rewards as you play.
FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. No paperwork required: On the main menu, go to the Challenges section and “Track” objectives you’re aiming to complete. This will make them appear on the general pause menu to make your progress easier to track.
STACK FOR MAXIMUM ALTITUDE. Along with tracking challenges, stacking similar challenges, like ones all tied to Carrier Strike or an aerial vehicle, can allow you to earn Ace Medals and other rewards more efficiently.
REACH NEW HEIGHTS. Especially through the new proving ground known as Gauntlet: Fighter Sweep, take time to familiarize yourself with the F-74A Seacat and F/A-81F Super Spectre. Although not all challenges are based on aerial combat, the Top Gun Event encourages you to earn those wings and learn to fly.
WINGMAN UP. Squad up with your friends to tackle challenges together — especially those involving team-based objectives — to make progress faster than going solo… Because when it comes to the new vehicles, every great aviator has a WSO right behind them.

For more information about Battlefield, bookmark our website, subscribe to our newsletter, and stay connected with our Community across all our social platforms @Battlefield, including on Discord.

This article may change as we listen to community feedback and continue developing and evolving our Live Service & Content. We will always strive to keep our community as informed as possible.

*Top Gun: Carrier Strike, MP maps and certain content requires Battlefield 6 (sold separately).

**Requires Battlefield REDSEC and all game updates. Includes optional in-game purchases. Limited time offer. Conditions and restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/battlefield/battlefield-6/game-disclaimers for details.

†Applicable platform account and platform subscription (sold separately) may be required. Persistent internet connection and EA account required. Age restrictions apply. Includes in-game purchases.