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The Airframer Bulletin

Northrop Grumman SHEPARD X-Plane

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Every Bulletin story and press release covering Northrop Grumman SHEPARD X-Plane, newest first.

6 items

2026
22 July

ReleaseSkyfly Technologies opens its electric propulsion technology to aircraft OEMs and unveils hybrid propulsion system for unmanned aircraft

14 May DARPA’s XRQ-73 SHEPARD hybrid-electric experimental aircraft takes off at Edwards Air Force Base.

DARPA hybrid-electric UAV takes off from Edwards

The remotely piloted SHEPARD demonstrator completed its April flight at Edwards Air Force Base as propulsion research continued.

6 May

DARPA and Northrop Grumman fly XRQ-73 hybrid-electric demonstrator

Hybrid-electric flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base has advanced efforts to develop lower-emission military aircraft with greater operational flexibility.

6 May

ReleaseSHEPARD next-gen hybrid electric uncrewed aircraft takes flight

2024
10 July

ReleaseNorthrop Grumman builds next-generation hybrid electric uncrewed X-plane for DARPA

26 June The Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration program, known as SHEPARD, sees its hybrid-electric uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) receive its official X-plane designation, XRQ-73.

DARPA dubs its newest X-plane XRQ-73

The XRQ-73 aircraft will be a Group 3 UAS weighing approximately 1,250 pounds, which draws on the earlier AFRL/IARPA Great Horned Owl (GHO) project. First flight is expected by year-end 2024.