Northrop Grumman Launches Groundbreaking Hybrid Electric X-Plane for DARPA’s Vision of Tomorrow’s Aviation

Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the innovation and engineering of the Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion Aircraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) system.

The unmanned aerial vehicle developed for DARPA has recently received its formal X-plane designation of XRQ-73.

Created in collaboration with Scaled Composites, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, the XRQ-73 SHEPARD is a component of DARPA’s “X-prime” initiative, employing hybrid electric technology and elements to rapidly enhance a new mission-oriented aircraft design featuring propulsion systems and power specifications tailored for the Department of Defense.