The Northrop Grumman designed and built XRQ-73 hybrid electric uncrewed aircraft began flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Developed to advance propulsion technologies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program, the XRQ-73 advances next-generation propulsion for lightweight autonomous aircraft. The XRQ-73’s innovative hybrid-electric propulsion system combines fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and enhanced operational flexibility – enabling new mission possibilities and supporting the evolution of new aircraft designs.
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. 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. The XRQ-73 is an evolution of the XRQ-72A Great Horned Owl (GHO). The first_flight planned for year-end of 2024 takes place in April 2026, from Edwards Air Force Base.
