Northrop Grumman flies the hybrid-electric XRQ-73 drone for the first time at Edwards Air Force Base, reaching 5,500 meters and 460 km/h, in the program that DARPA calls the quietest aircraft ever tested by the Pentagon.

Written by Douglas Avila

Published on 12/05/2026 at 18:02

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XRQ-73 aims for combat and surveillance without thermal or sound signature. It is part of DARPA’s SHEPARD program, which seeks the quietest military aircraft ever developed by the Pentagon.

The Northrop XRQ-73 made its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in April 2026. The information was released by Interesting Engineering.

According to DARPA, the aircraft reached 5,500 meters altitude (18,000 feet) and 460 km/h (288 mph) on its first sortie. The program that developed it is called SHEPARD.

According to Northrop Grumman, the XRQ-73 is the most advanced hybrid-electric propulsion military aircraft ever tested. Consequently, the drone becomes a benchmark for the next generation of US military aviation.

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SHEPARD: the program that aims for nearly invisible aircraft

SHEPARD stands for Series Hybrid-Electric Powertrain for Aerial Reconnaissance Demonstrator. In other words, it is the demonstration of a hybrid-electric powertrain for aerial reconnaissance.

Northrop XRQ-73 on Edwards runway — XRQ-73 Drone on the Edwards Air Force Base runway. Editorial image.

Indeed, hybrid propulsion combines a small combustion engine with electric motors. Consequently, the XRQ-73 drone’s sound and thermal signature drops drastically in cruise flight.

In parallel, the generator powers batteries and motors. According to the company, the configuration allows for long-duration silent flights.

In turn, the concept follows the broad trend of military electrification. In comparison, conventional drones like the MQ-9 Reaper have thermal emissions detectable by modern infrared sensors.

Edwards Air Force Base: American aeronautical laboratory

Edwards Air Force Base is located in the Mojave Desert, California. According to the USAF, it is the main experimental aviation test center in the US.

Edwards Air Force Base in California — Edwards Air Force Base, in the Californian Mojave. Editorial image.

According to base records, projects like the SR-71, B-2, and X-15 were tested there. Consequently, the XRQ-73 enters a lineage of historic aircraft.

In parallel, the base has a dry lakebed of over 70 km². In other words, there is space for emergency landings in experimental projects.

Indeed, the Mojave climate allows for year-round testing. In comparison, European bases face seasons limited by snow.

Northrop XRQ-73 enters the company’s stealth tradition

Northrop Grumman is the developer of the B-2 Spirit, the world’s first operational stealth bomber. In parallel, it is the company behind the B-21 Raider, successor to the B-2.

Northrop engineers work on the XRQ-73 drone — Northrop engineers work on the XRQ-73. Editorial image.

According to DARPA, the XRQ-73 is not the only recent project. DefenseScoop also reported the first flight of Boeing’s MQ-25.

Indeed, the Pentagon is accelerating drone tests on various platforms. In parallel, DefenseScoop documents the Army Lumberjack tests with Maven AI.

In turn, according to Aerospace America, 2026 is the test year for the Pentagon’s bet on “drone wingmen”.

Northrop XRQ-73: technical parameters

The XRQ-73 still has many classified data. According to Northrop Grumman, public parameters cover altitude, speed, and general architecture.

Hybrid propulsion system of the XRQ-73 drone — Hybrid system with engine and batteries. Editorial image.

According to the company, the wingspan is approximately 7.5 meters. In parallel, the empty weight is around 600 kg.

Indeed, the sensor can be electro-optical, infrared, or SAR radar. On the other hand, the specific maximum payload has not been disclosed.

Compared to the MQ-9 Reaper, the XRQ-73 has a shorter gross range. Consequently, it is intended for local tactical surveillance missions, not strategic attack.

XRQ-73 Drone in numbers

5,500 meters (18,000 feet) altitude reached on the first flight
460 km/h (288 mph) verified speed
7.5 meters approximate wingspan
600 kg estimated empty weight
SHEPARD: DARPA program with Northrop Grumman

In comparison, the RQ-170 Sentinel has a wingspan of about 20 meters. On the other hand, the XRQ-73 represents a smaller and more discreet category.

XRQ-73 Drone flying at high altitude at dusk — Editorial reconstruction of the XRQ-73 flight. Editorial image.

In parallel, countries like Israel and South Korea are also investing in hybrid drones. According to Defense News, similar programs are under development in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Indeed, the military drone market has already moved about US$ 14 billion in 2025 according to SIPRI. Consequently, conventional aviation is rapidly losing ground.

What about Brazil? FAB researches drones with combustion engines

The Brazilian Air Force has operated drones since the 2000s. According to official data, Embraer developed the Falcão Avantec drone, still in an experimental phase.

According to analysts, Brazil does not have a program equivalent to SHEPARD. In parallel, the Brazilian focus remains on conventional combustion engines.

In comparison, the new Russian nuclear icebreaker shows another energy approach, but for naval use.

According to military analysts, Brazil could accelerate development through partnerships with China or Israel. On the other hand, these countries also compete for Brazilian contracts.

See also the monitoring of magma under Iceland using similar sensing technology.

In parallel, the private sector also invests. According to Bloomberg, Anduril and Kratos compete for similar contracts with hybrid-electric technology.

Indeed, the military drone market grows 18% annually in the US. Consequently, projects like the XRQ-73 attract venture capital of around US$ 4 billion.

According to analysts, the program could scale to 200 units in the next five years. In parallel, the USAF plans to integrate XRQ drones as wingmen for F-35 and F-22 fighters.

In comparison, the current MQ-9 fleet reaches 280 aircraft. Consequently, the Northrop XRQ could double the USAF’s operational portfolio in the next decade.

Caveat: the XRQ-73 is still in the testing phase

According to DARPA, the first flight is just the beginning. In parallel, another 12 sorties are scheduled for 2026.

On the other hand, there are still many technical questions. According to analysts, fuel consumption in hybrid mode depends on fine-tuning the generator.

Can Brazil adopt hybrid-electric architecture in national drones? The XRQ-73 case shows that the military transition is happening now, not in decades.

Still, the aircraft remains an aeronautical benchmark for the 2026-2028 triennium. Consequently, European and Asian manufacturers are rushing to respond with their own programs.

Northrop Grumman flies the hybrid-electric XRQ-73 drone for the first time at Edwards Air Force Base, reaching 5,500 meters and 460 km/h, in the program that DARPA calls the quietest aircraft ever tested by the Pentagon.

XRQ-73 aims for combat and surveillance without thermal or sound signature. It is part of DARPA’s SHEPARD program, which seeks the quietest military aircraft ever developed by the Pentagon.

SHEPARD: the program that aims for nearly invisible aircraft

Edwards Air Force Base: American aeronautical laboratory

Northrop XRQ-73 enters the company’s stealth tradition

Northrop XRQ-73: technical parameters

XRQ-73 Drone in numbers

What about Brazil? FAB researches drones with combustion engines

Caveat: the XRQ-73 is still in the testing phase

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Northrop Grumman flies the hybrid-electric XRQ-73 drone for the first time at Edwards Air Force Base, reaching 5,500 meters and 460 km/h, in the program that DARPA calls the quietest aircraft ever tested by the Pentagon.

XRQ-73 aims for combat and surveillance without thermal or sound signature. It is part of DARPA’s SHEPARD program, which seeks the quietest military aircraft ever developed by the Pentagon.

SHEPARD: the program that aims for nearly invisible aircraft

Edwards Air Force Base: American aeronautical laboratory

Northrop XRQ-73 enters the company’s stealth tradition

Northrop XRQ-73: technical parameters

XRQ-73 Drone in numbers

What about Brazil? FAB researches drones with combustion engines

Caveat: the XRQ-73 is still in the testing phase

Seven world powers including the US, China, and Russia are spending €22 billion on a reactor in the south of France that aims to confine plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times the temperature of the Sun’s core, using a magnetic field capable of lifting an entire aircraft carrier.

While Brazil has been discussing bullet trains for 16 years, China delivers 5 new high-speed lines in 2026, surpasses 50,000 km of HSR, and moves 1 billion passengers in a single year.

Elon Musk’s internet comes to mobile: Starlink technology connects smartphones without an antenna via satellite, works even without carrier signal, already costs just US$10 extra in the US, and could arrive in Brazil as an included benefit.

With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

While countries spend billions to draw water from the sea, a Nobel-winning scientist creates a container-sized machine that extracts up to 1,000 liters per day from dry air and uses ultrasound to release water in minutes, even in the middle of the desert.

Belgium will sink 23 giant concrete caissons, each weighing 22,000 tons, in the North Sea to build the world’s first artificial energy island 45 km off the coast, forming offshore electrical walls.

The United Kingdom removed approximately 1.8 million cubic meters of sand from the seabed and is depositing it all on 6 kilometers of beaches in Norfolk, in a mega-operation to curb erosion, protect coastal villages, and shield a vital gas terminal against the encroaching Atlantic.

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