The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Northrop Grumman, successfully flew the XRQ-73 hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft in April 2026 at Edwards Air Force Base as part of its Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program.

The aircraft is designed to meet an urgent need for more survivable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. Using hybrid-electric propulsion, it significantly reduces radar, heat, and noise signatures—making it much harder to detect or target than current drones like the MQ-9 Reaper—while also enabling longer endurance missions.

Unlike typical X-planes, the XRQ-73 is being fast-tracked toward potential operational use, aiming to quickly transition advanced technology into real-world military capability.