{"id":40656,"date":"2026-05-07T10:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/?p=40656"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:16:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:16:01","slug":"northrop-xrq-73-shepard-hybrid-flying-wing-drone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/northrop-xrq-73-shepard-hybrid-flying-wing-drone\/","title":{"rendered":"DARPA&#8217;s XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric &#8216;flying wing&#8217; drone completes maiden flight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Yesterday, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.northropgrumman.com\/autonomous-systems\/shepard-next-gen-hybrid-electric-uncrewed-aircraft-takes-flight\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/news.northropgrumman.com\/autonomous-systems\/shepard-next-gen-hybrid-electric-uncrewed-aircraft-takes-flight\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Northrop Grumman<\/strong><\/span><\/a> announced its XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid electric experimental drone has begun flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The aircraft conducted its maiden flight in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-6-xl-font-size\">First flight of DARPA&#8217;s experimental XRQ-73<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>The XRQ-73 is a collaboration between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Laboratory and Northrop Grumman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-test-flight-1024x653.jpg\" alt=\"DARPA XRQ-73 test flight\" class=\"wp-image-40660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-test-flight-1024x653.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-test-flight-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-test-flight-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-test-flight.jpg 1430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: DARPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/darpa\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/tag\/darpa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DARPA<\/a><\/strong><\/span> has not disclosed what its intended use case is, the designation &#8220;XRQ&#8221; suggests it is an experimental intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone. It is unclear if it will be configured for other missions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Northrop Grumman&#8217;s subsidiary, Scaled Composites, is also heavily involved in the programme. The XRQ-73 evolved directly from Scaled Composites&#8217; XRQ-72A. DARPA has previously said the XRQ-73 weighs around 1,250 pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The XRQ-73 is being developed as part of the Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) programme. The aircraft was first unveiled in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-wing-stablizer-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"DARPA XRQ-73 wing stabilizer\" class=\"wp-image-40658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-wing-stablizer-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-wing-stablizer-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-wing-stablizer-768x520.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: DARPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It had been planned for the aircraft to fly in 2024, although it&#8217;s unclear why it was delayed to April 2026. Images released show noticeable redesigns (e.g., the addition of two vertical stabilisers) compared with renders in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/darpa-x-65-aircraft-no-flaps-rudder-flight-test\/\"  class=\"btn-ocean  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Also read: No flaps, no rudder, no problem? DARPA pushes the X-65 toward flight tests<\/span>\n                    <span>Also read: No flaps, no rudder, no problem? DARPA pushes the X-65 toward flight tests<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-6-xl-font-size\">Developing high-efficiency and quiet propulsion<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary goal of the SHEPARD experimental aircraft is to develop high-efficiency and very quiet propulsion technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the military world, the attractiveness of fuel efficiency lies less with lowering emissions or the cost of fuel, and more with extending the range and endurance of aircraft. Reducing the fuel weight is also important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/First-flight-DARPA-XRQ-73-test-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"First flight DARPA XRQ-73 test\" class=\"wp-image-40657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/First-flight-DARPA-XRQ-73-test-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/First-flight-DARPA-XRQ-73-test-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/First-flight-DARPA-XRQ-73-test-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: DARPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Northrop noted, &#8220;The XRQ-73\u2019s innovative hybrid-electric propulsion system combines fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and enhanced operational flexibility \u2013 enabling new mission possibilities and supporting the evolution of new aircraft designs.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the XRQ-73 visibly has features that will lower its radar cross-section, noise is an often overlooked aspect of stealth or low observable operations. Enemy soldiers and instruments can be alerted to the presence of an aircraft by its sound, even if it hasn&#8217;t been seen. <\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/northrop-grumman-talon-military-drones-software\/\"  class=\"btn-ocean  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Also read: Forget the drone, Northrop\u2019s Talon is building the brains of future airpower<\/span>\n                    <span>Also read: Forget the drone, Northrop\u2019s Talon is building the brains of future airpower<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n<h2 class=\"heading-two\">Northrop Grumman is a leader in flying wing stealth aircraft<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/tacit-blue-b-21-stealth-ancestor\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/tacit-blue-b-21-stealth-ancestor\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Northrop is best known for its B-2 Spirit<\/strong><\/span><\/a>; it has also built other various stealthy flying wing autonomous reconnaissance aircraft. The most notable of these is arguably the massive, but secretive RQ-180 that the US Air Force doesn&#8217;t officially acknowledge to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B-21-Raider-AAR-trial-Northrop-Grumman-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"The USAF's first B-21 Raider prototype (serial AF-0001\/'ED', nicknamed 'Cerberus') conducts an air-to-air refuelling trial over California with a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 370th FLTS at Edwards AFB on 10 March 2026. Image: Northrop Grumman\" class=\"wp-image-39747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B-21-Raider-AAR-trial-Northrop-Grumman-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B-21-Raider-AAR-trial-Northrop-Grumman-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B-21-Raider-AAR-trial-Northrop-Grumman-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image: Northrop Grumman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The older RQ-170 stealth\/low observable flying wing has been acknowledged by the US Air Force, although it is built by Lockheed Martin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Northrop Grumman is also building <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/b-21-raider-refuelling-design-usaf-stealth-bomber\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"39723\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>the next-generation B-21 Raider strategic bomber<\/strong><\/span><\/a> to replace the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notably, the XRQ-73 is not the only aircraft of its type in development for the USAF. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/hybrid-electric-ghost-strike-recon-drone-in-the-works-for-usaf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/hybrid-electric-ghost-strike-recon-drone-in-the-works-for-usaf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The War Zone<\/a><\/strong><\/span> reported in 2025 that a $99 million contract had been awarded to General Atomics for its GHOST programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The description of the GHOST programme is &#8220;hybrid-electric propulsion ducted fan next-generation intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance\/strike unmanned aerial system,&#8221; which seems very similar to the XRQ-73.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>China is also developing a large range of low-observable flying wing autonomous aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/693f61d7a310942c0d5bee1e-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"China flying wing stealth drone\" class=\"wp-image-40600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/693f61d7a310942c0d5bee1e-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/693f61d7a310942c0d5bee1e-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/693f61d7a310942c0d5bee1e-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/693f61d7a310942c0d5bee1e-640x360.webp 640w, https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/693f61d7a310942c0d5bee1e.webp 1199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Chinese State Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of the XRQ-73, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.darpa.mil\/news\/2026\/darpa-xrq-73-demonstrates-hybrid-electric-flight\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.darpa.mil\/news\/2026\/darpa-xrq-73-demonstrates-hybrid-electric-flight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SHEPARD program manager<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Lt. Col. Clark McGehee, said, &#8220;The architecture proven by the XRQ-73 paves the way for new types of mission systems and delivered effects. We look forward to advancing this technology through the flight test program and delivering new capabilities for our warfighters.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-wrap items-center justify-start -mx-2 mt-6\">\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/unmanned\/\"  class=\"btn-stealth  mx-2 my-2  flex items-center flex-row \">\n                                        <span class=\"sr-only\">Find all our coverage of uncrewed and autonomous systems right here<\/span>\n                    <span>Find all our coverage of uncrewed and autonomous systems right here<\/span>\n                <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<p><strong><em>Featured Image: DARPA<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Delayed from 2024, the XRQ-73 has finally taken to the skies as the USAF works to develop very efficient and quiet propulsion technologies for its spy aircraft. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":40659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,29,85,65,83],"tags":[1192,11499,1440,1610,11511],"class_list":["post-40656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defence","category-defence-security","category-engines-propulsion","category-innovation-technology","category-unmanned","tag-darpa","tag-experimental-aircraft","tag-northrop-grumman","tag-united-states-air-force","tag-xrq-73-shepard"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Northrop takes XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid flying wing drone on maiden flight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Northrop Grumman\u2019s XRQ-73 Shepard hybrid-electric experimental drone has begun flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/northrop-xrq-73-shepard-hybrid-flying-wing-drone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Northrop takes XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid flying wing drone on maiden flight\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Northrop Grumman\u2019s XRQ-73 Shepard hybrid-electric experimental drone has begun flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/news\/northrop-xrq-73-shepard-hybrid-flying-wing-drone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AGN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-07T09:50:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DARPA-XRQ-73-test-on-the-ground-1024x683.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"aaron.josh.spray@gmail.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"aaron.josh.spray@gmail.com\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\\\/news\\\/northrop-xrq-73-shepard-hybrid-flying-wing-drone\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\\\/news\\\/northrop-xrq-73-shepard-hybrid-flying-wing-drone\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"aaron.josh.spray@gmail.com\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/aerospaceglobalnews.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3ce2400446f21ebda991b10efaed1898\"},\"headline\":\"DARPA&#8217;s XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric &#8216;flying wing&#8217; 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