The XRQ-73 prototype, the result of the Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), flew for the first time on April 14, 2026.
The unmanned aircraft, designed by Northrop Grumman and its subsidiary Scaled Composites, features an ultra-quiet propulsion system powered by electricity generated from a gas turbine, according to a report by The Aviationist.
According to Northrop Grumman, the aircraft weighs around 555 kilograms and is designated as a Group 3 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) under the U.S. Department of Defense classification system, indicating an estimated altitude of 18,000 feet and a maximum speed of around 250 knots.
After some development delays, the XRQ-73 flew for the first time on April 14, 2026, after taking off from Edwards Air Force Base. The modern aircraft was described by DARPA as a “step forward in demonstrating the military utility of hybrid-electric propulsion.”
“This milestone is not just about a single flight. 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 providing new capabilities for our warfighters,” said Lieutenant Colonel Clark McGehee, SHEPARD program manager.
We recently flew the XRQ-73 hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft in collaboration with @AFResearchLab and @northropgrumman at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Part of the SHEPARD program, the flight proves the military utility of hybrid-electric propulsion. ✈️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/CEO4GD7CqL
— DARPA (@DARPA) May 6, 2026
Photos: Northrop Grumman / X @DARPA. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
