Northrop Grumman develops Lumberjack: modular attack drone compatible with XQ‑58 Valkyrie

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Northrop Grumman develops Lumberjack: modular strike drone compatible with XQ‑58 Valkyrie

Northrop Grumman develops Lumberjack: modular strike drone compatible with XQ‑58 Valkyrie (X @AirPowerNEW1)

Northrop Grumman is developing the Lumberjack, a jet-powered, single-use strike drone with a modular design intended to be launched from the ground and, soon, from the air — including from Kratos’ XQ‑58 Valkyrie.

The system has already undergone ground-launch tests from multiple types of launchers, and the company is doing detailed engineering work to ensure compatibility with a range of manned and unmanned platforms; airborne launch flight tests are expected to begin next year. The Lumberjack can also carry and dispense its own precision submunitions, expanding its tactical employment options.

Technically, the Lumberjack is similar in size to a Small Diameter Bomb (about 1.8 m) and has an estimated maximum gross weight around 130 kg, while the empty airframe is reported to weigh roughly 35 kg. Endurance is described as “several hundred” nautical miles, with a cruise speed around Mach 0.3 at 20,000 ft — figures that vary with payload and fuel. Compatible munitions include the Hatchet, a 3 kg gliding munition with GPS/INS and laser guidance options, and the platform is designed to accept various BRUs and a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic payloads. Partners such as Palantir and ESAero are involved in integration and production.

Operationally, Lumberjack is intended to project effects from standoff, strike high-risk targets, suppress air defenses, or perform interdiction and ISR missions while keeping the launch platform out of the highest-threat zones. The program emphasizes low cost and scalable production, favoring commercial components and an open architecture; Northrop cites a target “cost per effect” in the range of $75,000 to $100,000.

While conceived as a single-use system for real operations, efforts are underway to improve recoverability for training, and live launches from the XQ‑58 or similar aircraft could occur as soon as next year.

Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @AirPowerNEW1 | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team

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