Designed by Northrop Grumman and subsidiary Scaled Composites, the unmanned XRQ-73 options an ultra-quiet propulsion system powered by electrical energy from a fuel turbine.
Taking off from Edwards Air Power Base in April 2026, the XRQ-73’s first flight was hailed by DARPA (Protection Superior Analysis Tasks Company) as a “step ahead in demonstrating the army utility of hybrid-electric propulsion”. The plane is the results of the company’s Collection Hybrid Electrical Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program, constructing on the secretive XRQ-72 Nice Horned Owl mission.
Knowledge embedded within the launched photographs recommend the plane’s first flight came about on Apr. 14, 2026.
Based on Northrop Grumman, the plane weighs in at round 1,250 lbs (555 kilograms), and is designated as a Group 3 Uncrewed Plane System (UAS) beneath the U.S. Division of Protection’s classification system. This places it in the identical class because the RQ-21 Blackjack and RQ-7B Shadow, indicating altitude efficiency as much as round 18,000 toes and speeds as much as 250 knots.
We just lately flew the XRQ-73 hybrid-electric unmanned plane in collaboration with @AFResearchLab and @northropgrumman at Edwards Air Power Base, Calif.
A part of the SHEPARD program, the flight proves the army utility of hybrid-electric propulsion. ✈️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/CEO4GD7CqL
— DARPA (@DARPA) Might 6, 2026
Preliminary planning would have seen the XRQ-73’s first flight happen in 2024. It clearly missed this milestone, though the precise nature of the delays are unclear. A lot concerning the SHEPARD program stays behind closed doorways, and that is maybe evidenced in a manner by the information of its first flight solely being revealed weeks after it truly came about.
“This milestone is not only a couple of single flight,” mentioned Lieutenant Colonel Clark McGehee, SHEPARD program supervisor. “The structure confirmed by the XRQ-73 paves the best way for brand spanking new forms of mission techniques and delivered results. We stay up for advancing this expertise by means of the flight check program and delivering new capabilities for our warfighters.”
Our @DARPA SHEPARD demonstrator is formally an X-Airplane! Meet the XRQ-73 Hybrid Electrical Uncrewed Plane System. pic.twitter.com/3GtBjnS3lL
— Northrop Grumman (@NGCNews) July 10, 2024
Since our first take a look at the XRQ-73 design in July 2024, the plane has apparently taken on a lot of design modifications. Most notably, vertical stabilizers are actually featured in direction of the tip of every wing – it’s unknown whether or not these are everlasting fixtures. A brand new air inlet has appeared on the topside of the plane, together with some blade antennas. In between the 2 major intakes, we are able to additionally see a brand new machine fitted with what seems to be a forward-facing aperture – this may very well be for a digital camera or different visible system to assist plane management.
The big fairing on the stomach of the plane stays, most definitely supposed for no matter payload the design is envisaged to hold. This has not but been revealed, however is nearly definitely because of be some type of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tools. The stealthy flying wing design together with the quiet and – seemingly – low thermal signature electrical propulsion system would lend themselves effectively to clandestine ISR actions at decrease altitudes than platforms just like the ‘RQ-180’.
We are able to additionally see black units overlaying the surfaces of the wings – these are easy airflow indicators, and can seemingly be eliminated in some unspecified time in the future through the plane’s flight testing program as soon as all related knowledge is obtained.
Curiously, the official photos now launched of the SHEPARD plane present it resting on Edwards AFB’s dry lake mattress reasonably than on a runway, taxiway, or apron. The dry lake, formally Rogers Dry Lake, acts as an enormous extension to Edwards AFB’s custom runway surfaces and has been utilized by the Area Shuttle, the X-15, and a wide range of different plane throughout testing or throughout emergencies.
Coolest man on the lakebed 😎
A #throwbacktuesday to when a C-17 Globemaster III from the @911_AirliftWing out of Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station carried out proficiency landings at Rogers Dry Lake Mattress right here at @EdwardsAFB. @HQ_AFMC @usairforce @AirMobilityCmd #aviation pic.twitter.com/cgIMwJVhOH
— Edwards Air Power Base (@EdwardsAFB) March 8, 2023
As a comparatively secretive program, it’s seemingly that additional flight testing of this newest ‘X-plane’ will probably be carried out with out a lot public fanfare.
