Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)’s XRQ-73 SHEPARD Uncrewed Aircraft Begins Flight Testing
Key takeaways
- Last week, the company announced that its XRQ-73 hybrid electric uncrewed aircraft had started flight testing.
- The aircraft has been designed and made to advance propulsion technologies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s SHEPARD program.
- Morgan analyst Seth Seifman, who on May 6 reiterated a Hold rating on the stock with a price target of $635, according to a report on TipRanks.
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC)’s XRQ-73 SHEPARD Uncrewed Aircraft Begins Flight Testing Ashar Jawad Wed, May 13, 2026 at 5:33 PM GMT+7 2 min read NOC Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is among the 9 Best Drone Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts. Last week, the company announced that its XRQ-73 hybrid electric uncrewed aircraft had started flight testing.
The aircraft has been designed and made to advance propulsion technologies for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s SHEPARD program. The flight tests are being seen as a significant milestone for lightweight, unmanned aircraft.
According to the press release, XRQ-73’s hybrid electric propulsion system will offer efficient fuel consumption and lower emissions, alongside improved operational flexibility, which will aid in the future development of new aircraft designs.