There’s Something Way Different About the XRQ-73 Drone

There’s Something Way Different About the XRQ-73 Drone

An XRQ-73 prototype drone flies over the desert in southern California. The XRQ-73 is hybrid-powered, extending its range and making it more difficult to detect and target. (Courtesy of Northrop Grumman) Topic: Air Warfare Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: North America Tags: Aerial Drones, California, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Drones, Edwards Air Force Base, United States, and XRQ-73 There’s Something Way Different Abo…

Northrop Flies DARPA Hybrid-Electric XRQ-73 SHEPARD UAS

Northrop Grumman has successfully flown the XRQ-73 SHEPARD, a hybrid-electric flying-wing UAS developed for DARPA’s Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration program. The milestone flight took place in April 2026 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, after previous delays, as reported by Aviation Week. This experimental Group 3 UAS represents a significant step in testing hybrid-electric propulsion for future military autonomous …