Newest X-plane "XRQ-73"

June 29, 2024

June 24, 2024 - Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) introduced the Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration program, known as SHEPARD, with its official X-plane designation: XRQ-73 ... a Group 3 UAS weighing approximately 1,250 pounds. Its first flight is expected by year-end 2024.

SHEPARD is an "X-prime" program, leveraging the series hybrid electric architecture and some of the 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 our warfighters.

Image created by USA Patriotism! from a DARPA Artist Concept Graphic.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) | U.S. Department of Defense

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