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The Pilots Desk
hybrid electric uncrewed aircraft under development by Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman XRQ-73 SHEPARD

Northrop Grumman XRQ-73 SHEPARD

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, 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.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Country of origin
United States

Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.