شركة نورثروب غرومان تكشف عن نموذج لطائرة درون XRQ-73 بنظام دفع كهربائي هجين

Northrop Grumman has unveiled a prototype of the XRQ-73 stealth drone with a hybrid electric propulsion system. The aircraft was showcased on the company’s official website. The drone is a result of collaboration between Northrop and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the SHEPARD program. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate and test the latest hybrid-electric aircraft engine technology. The XRQ-73 uses a power generator and electric motors for thrust instead of a traditional jet engine, offering better efficiency, low noise, and heat footprint. The aircraft’s design features a tailless flying wing fuselage shape used in stealth bombers and reconnaissance drones. The XRQ-73 is classified as a Group 3 drone with a weight of 570 kg. DARPA plans to begin flight testing by the end of 2024.

Source: Militarnyi

ملخص الأخبار

• Northrop Grumman unveiled the drone under the SHEPARD program for hybrid-electric aircraft engine testing.
• The XRQ-73 uses a GHO hybrid propulsion system, emphasizing efficiency, low noise, and heat footprint.
• The drone design echoes stealth bombers and reconnaissance drones with a tailless flying wing fuselage.
• DARPA plans scheduled flight testing of the XRQ-73 prototype by the end of 2024.