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Uncrewed aircraft · Air

XRQ-73 SHEPARD

Hybrid-electric flying-wing X-plane built for DARPA's SHEPARD propulsion demonstration.

by Northrop Grumman

PrototypeUncrewed aircraftAirFirst flightApr 2026
northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/aircraft/shepard-hybrid-electric-uncrewed-aircraft-system

Northrop Grumman's XRQ-73 Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) uncrewed flying wing, built with Scaled Composites for DARPA to demonstrate quiet, efficient hybrid-electric propulsion.

Timeline1

  1. First flightReported

    First flight at Edwards AFB

    DARPA announced the flight in May 2026; the article says the flight took place in April. The first flight had originally been hoped for before the end of 2024.

    SourcesThe War Zone

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Sources2

  1. 1.
    NewsDARPA's XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

    The War Zone · May 6, 2026 · Supports: System milestone

    “DARPA announced the XRQ-73 test flight, which was conducted in April from Edwards Air Force Base in California,”
  2. 2.
    CompanySHEPARD Hybrid Electric Uncrewed Aircraft System

    Northrop Grumman · Supports: System

    “Northrop Grumman’s XRQ-73 Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion Aircraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) is designed to rapidly advance new mission-focused capabilities using innovative propulsion architecture”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.