Military’s Secretive XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Drone Looks Like a B-2

DARPA says experimental uncrewed aircraft made its first flight in California in April.

Jack Daleo

Friday, May 08, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

DARPA’s secretive XRQ-73 hybrid-electric drone, developed by Northrop Grumman, conducts a test flight out of Edwards Air Force Base (KEDW) in California. [Credit: Northrop Grumman]

Key Takeaways:

The experimental XRQ-73, a hybrid-electric uncrewed aerial vehicle developed by Northrop Grumman and DARPA with a tailless, flying wing design, successfully completed its first flight in April.
Designed for enhanced fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and stealthier operations, the drone is part of DARPA's SHEPARD program, aimed at advancing alternative propulsion systems for military craft.
Though the XRQ-73 itself may not enter service, the project's primary goal is to validate technologies and architectures that could be integrated into future military aircraft, despite facing initial technical development challenges.

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A clandestine, experimental Pentagon drone made its first flight in April after years of preparation, Northrop Grumman and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said Wednesday.

DARPA said that it flew the XRQ-73—a hybrid-electric uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and enable stealthier operations—in April at Edwards Air Force Base (KEDW) in California. The XRQ-73 was first and last seen in 2024, when DARPA gave it a designation and Northrop’s Scaled Composites unit unveiled the design.