DARPA/Northrop XRQ-73 hybrid-electric flying-wing drone completes test flight

DARPA’s XRQ-73 SHEPARD demonstrator has flown, validating a series hybrid-electric propulsion architecture aimed at high-efficiency, very quiet operation for Group 3-class UAVs. Newly released imagery shows design evolution (added vertical stabilizers, additional intake, new antennas and a nose camera fairing), indicating maturation toward operationally representative mission systems and potentially new ISR/strike mission profiles enabled by low acoustic signature and improved endurance.