Northrop Grumman XRQ-73 SHEPARD
| XRQ-73 SHEPARD | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Unmanned aerial vehicle/unmanned aircraft system |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems |
| History | |
| First flight | 14 April 2026 |
The Northrop Grumman XRQ-73 SHEPARD (Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration) is a tailless flying wing hybrid-electric Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicle (weighting about 1,250 lb (570 kg)) developed by Northrop Grumman.[1][2]
The prime contractor will be Northrop Grumman's Aeronautic Systems, with Scaled Composites,[2] Cornerstone Research Group, Brayton Energy, PC Krause and Associates, and EaglePicher Technologies as suppliers.[1]
The XRQ-73 is an evolution of the XRQ-72A Great Horned Owl (GHO).[1][3]
The first flight took place in April 2026, from Edwards Air Force Base;[4] DARPA did not officially release the precise date, but reports were that it was on April 14.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 "Meet DARPA's Newest X-plane: XRQ-73". Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- 1 2 "XRQ-73 SHEPARD Hybrid Electric X-Plane". Northrop Grumman. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ↑ Rogoway, Tyler; Newdick, Thomas (10 July 2024). "Our Best Look Yet At The XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Stealthy Flying Wing Drone". The War Zone. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ↑ https://www.opex360.com/2026/05/08/lagence-du-pentagone-dediee-a-linnovation-a-fait-voler-le-xrq-73-un-drone-a-propulsion-hybride-revolutionnaire/#comments
- ↑ "DARPA's XRQ-73 hybrid-electric drone completes secretive first flight". MSN.com. May 7, 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
External links