Our DARPA SHEPARD demonstrator is officially an X-Plane! Meet the XRQ-73 Hybrid Electric Uncrewed Aircraft System. Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6045luusZ Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) #DefiningPossible
A = Attack Aircraft B = Bomber Raider C = Military Transport Aircraft E = Warning and control system, command Joint Chiefs of Staff Airborne EC = Electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counter information F = Fighters Jet HC = Fixed-wing Personnel Recovery platform JP = Joint Air Operations KC = Tanker MC = Infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces MQ = Military UAV Q = Drone R = Reconnaissance RQ = High-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft are non-weaponized military drones T = TRAINER Aircraft U = High-altitude reconnaissance UH = Utility Helicopter V = Tiltrotor aircraft VC = Air Force One WC = Air sampling and collection operations X = Research
Give this vehicle extended or unlimited range, your future war fighters in a safe place to conduct business ! Now your talking ! Not sure about range ? We are !
You better build a lot of them and keep the cost down. If my car can be made by a thick but light carbon fiber tub with extruded aluminum subframes, then a strong but light airframe can be made the same way, for less than $500,000. The more carbon fiber, the less metal to be detected by enemy radar counter measures. Stealth composites can be added to C/F strands and marry externally extremely well. The wings, needing to flex somewhat...should have aluminum attached to the sub-frames imbedded in the C/F "cockpit"/ tub. I know creating a military grade drone is expensive due to the sensitive equipment that must be protected inside, but these aircraft do not have to or need to cost a billion dollars. If McLaren, Ferrari and even Corvette can build such exquisite and long lasting vehicles that cost less than 1million, so can Lockheed and and Boeing for a lot less taxpayer dollars. Just a thought.
This is a shocking development, it looks ready to spark some change in the UAV sector. Has the power to go the distance and the silent endurance to keep you ‘current’ on the battlefield.
Congratulations on the official X-Plane designation of the XRQ-73! At Atom Space, we're developing cutting-edge energy-dense structures that could significantly enhance the SHEPARD program's range and endurance. We'd love to explore potential collaborations - let's connect! #DefiningPossible #EnergyDenseStructures
Glad this is in our corner!! USA, USA!!
Congratulations to the Northrop Grumman team on the XRQ-73 Hybrid Electric Uncrewed Aircraft System being designated an X-Plane! This milestone highlights the innovative strides being made in hybrid electric aviation technology. I'm particularly interested in how this advancement might influence future applications in both defense and civilian sectors. Looking forward to seeing how this technology evolves and its potential impact on sustainable aviation.
With those cavities, the XRQ-73 has poor radar cross section (RCS). There was probably no emphasis on the RCS signature requirement. The nose inlets probably morph or close up, but the side sector RCS was sacrificed. So, what is the range of this hybrid electric aircraft? Will it meet mission operation requirements?
Inventor of the Magnecopter™ (Patent Pending)
1moAt what cost? Because it looks like another billion dollar boondoggle. Seriously, what's the range?