DARPA and Northrop Grumman Test XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Northrop Grumman have successfully conducted the first flight of the XRQ-73, an uncrewed hybrid-electric aircraft. This milestone is part of the Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion Aircraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program, aimed at exploring military applications for hybrid-electric propulsion. The flight took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The XRQ-73, developed from the Great Horned Owl program, features a drivetrain that uses gasoline or diesel to generate electricity for propulsion. The aircraft's design includes a tailless, blended-wing-body fuselage, reminiscent of Northrop's B-2 and B-21 bombers. The SHEPARD program seeks to mature hybrid-electric technology for broader military applications.