SHEPARD, an "X-prime" program, utilizes the series hybrid electric architecture and some component technologies from the earlier AFRL/IARPA Great Horned Owl (GHO) project.
"The idea behind a DARPA X-prime program is to take emerging technologies and burn down system-level integration risks to quickly mature a new missionized long endurance aircraft design that can be fielded quickly," said Steve Komadina, SHEPARD program manager. "The SHEPARD program is maturing a specific propulsion architecture and power class as an exemplar of potential benefits for the Department of Defense."
The DARPA team includes members from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and warfighters.
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Aeronautics Systems sector in Redondo Beach, CA, is the prime contractor for SHEPARD. Major suppliers include Scaled Composites, LLC, Cornerstone Research Group, Inc., Brayton Energy, LLC, PC Krause and Associates, and EaglePicher Technologies, LLC.
The XRQ-73 aircraft will be a Group 3 UAS weighing approximately 1,250 pounds. The first flight of the XRQ-73 is expected by year-end 2024.
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