US EditionNorthrop Unveils New ‘Talon’ Drone Fighter Jet
Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon drone integrates advanced AI and human oversight, aiming to meet US Air Force demand for 1,000 loyal wingmen with faster, cheaper production.
- On December 4, 2025, Northrop Grumman unveiled Project Talon in Mojave, California, presenting it as an autonomous Loyal Wingman to support crewed combat missions.
- After losing its initial bid, Northrop relaunched the effort as Project Talon, evolving Project Lotus to compete in the Department of War's Collaborative Combat Aircraft competition.
- The design prioritizes multi-mission capability and human-on-the-loop autonomy, using modular manufacturing to enable flexibility and cutting 1,000 lb and 50% parts to meet $23,000,000 to $25,000,000 Air Force cap.
- The U.S. Air Force's 1,000-aircraft demand frames Talon's intended role as a force multiplier to boost lethality, survivability, and reduce pilot risk, with upcoming flight trials validating maturity.
- The prototype reached wheels-on-the-ground in 15 months, with a first flight projected in nine months, and development drew on the Beacon autonomous avionics testbed launched earlier this year.
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Northrop unveils new ‘Talon’ drone fighter jet
Northrop Grumman has revealed Project Talon, a new autonomous aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed fighters. The system was introduced on 4 December in Mojave, California. Northrop presents Talon as an autonomous wingman intended to support combat missions and increase operational capacity. The company says the design draws on its long experience in uncrewed aviation and its internal development ecosystem. In its announcement, Northrop …
Northrop reveals Project Talon, a drone wingman for "multiple missions"
Northrop Grumman's Project Talon Takes Flight in a Crowded Sky
Northrop Grumman unveiled Project Talon in the vast hangars of the Mojave Air and Space Port in the California desert. This unmanned aircraft is ready to team up with fighter jets, transforming solo missions into coordinated raids that protect pilots and provide them a competitive advantage. Northrop’s engineers and the magicians at Scaled Composites have [...]
Grumman Reveals ‘Project Talon’: the Autonomous Wingman
Northrop Grumman has unveiled ‘Project Talon’: the Autonomous Wingman. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman) MOJAVE, Calif. – Dec. 4, 2025 – Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) unveiled Project Talon, an autonomous aircraft built to fly alongside crewed fighters. As the latest addition to the company’s elite autonomous portfolio, Project Talon represents a paradigm shift in air dominance as an adaptive, collaborative teammate for combat missions. Proje…
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