Wednesday, May 6, 2026

XRQ-73 SHEPARD successfully completed its maiden flight

The XRQ-73 SHEPARD successfully completed its maiden flight at Edwards Air Force Base. Developed by Scaled Composites in partnership with Northrop Grumman and DARPA, this "Group 3" Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is designed to redefine stealth and endurance through cutting-edge hybrid technology.

The XRQ-73 is a tailless flying wing that prioritizes "acoustic stealth." By utilizing a Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion system, the aircraft combines traditional fuel-powered generators with electric motors. This architecture allows the SHEPARD to operate with an incredibly low noise profile and a reduced thermal signature, making it a ghost in the sky.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification
Classification	Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
Gross Weight	Approximately 1,250 lbs (567 kg)
Wingspan	~44 feet
Propulsion	Series Hybrid Electric
Drive System	Four internal ducted fans
Max Altitude	18,000 feet
Payload Capacity	~400 lbs

This aircraft is the direct evolution of the secretive XRQ-72A "Great Horned Owl" project. While its predecessor proved the concept, the XRQ-73 is built for the "Great Power Competition," focusing on rapid deployment and high-utility operations in contested environments.

With its first flight officially in the books, the SHEPARD program will now move into expanded flight envelopes to test maximum range and sensor integration.

SOURCE: DARPA

Leadership shift inside Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is undergoing a major leadership shift inside its aeronautics division, the heart of the company’s military aircraft empire. Greg Ulmer, who currently oversees the massive operation responsible for aircraft like the F-35, F-22, F-16 and C-130, is retiring after a three-decade run with the company. Taking his place will be OJ Sanchez, the current head of the legendary Skunk Works division — the secretive advanced development shop long associated with some of America’s most exotic aerospace programs.

It’s a notable transition not just because of the size of the business — Lockheed describes the aeronautics division as a $30 billion operation employing more than 35,000 people — but because of who is taking over. Sanchez comes from Skunk Works, a division wrapped in decades of mythology surrounding stealth aircraft, classified reconnaissance platforms and next-generation aerospace technology. Before joining Lockheed in 2014, Sanchez flew the F-22 Raptor, giving him both operational and development-side experience.

Ulmer’s path through the company was more traditional but no less significant. He joined Lockheed in 1995 as a flight test engineer working on the C-130 program and eventually rose through the ranks to lead the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2018. In 2021, he was elevated to lead all of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, effectively putting him in charge of some of the most important military aviation programs in the world.

While company statements focused on continuity and stability, aviation watchers are already reading between the lines. Putting a former Skunk Works chief in charge of the entire aeronautics division inevitably fuels speculation about where Lockheed believes the future of air combat is heading. The timing is also interesting, coming amid growing attention on sixth-generation fighters, autonomous systems, advanced stealth designs and persistent rumors surrounding classified “black” aviation programs.

Officially, Ulmer will step down in June but remain with the company temporarily as a strategic advisor to help oversee the transition. Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet praised both men in the announcement, describing Sanchez as a leader with a “passion for performance and mission.”

But within aviation circles, the headline many people noticed was much simpler:

The head of Skunk Works just got promoted.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

The "Top Gun" Betrayal? Why the Feds Just Arrested a Retired U.S. Fighter Pilot

Photo (C) Steven Douglass

The "Top Gun" Betrayal? Why the Feds Just Arrested a Retired U.S. Fighter Pilot

Imagine spending 24 years in the cockpit of America’s most elite fighter jets, only to end up in handcuffs for teaching those same secrets to the competition. That is the wild story currently unfolding with Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., a retired Air Force Major who was just slapped with major federal charges.

If you’ve been following the news, this case reads like a technothriller, but the consequences for national security are very real. Here is the breakdown of what happened.

Gerald Brown, known by his call sign "Runner," wasn't just any pilot. He flew F-15s and F-16s during his active duty and later worked as a high-level instructor for the F-35 Lightning II—the most advanced stealth fighter in the world. He had the kind of "tribal knowledge" about U.S. air combat that you can’t just find in a manual.

The Allegation: Selling the Playbook

According to the DOJ, Brown didn't just retire to a quiet life in Indiana. Instead, feds say he spent over two years in China working for a company called Stratos Aviation.

The accusation? He was essentially teaching Chinese airmen how to beat us. We’re talking:

Dogfighting maneuvers: The literal "how-to" of winning a 1-on-1 air battle.
Suppression of Air Defenses: How U.S. pilots sneak past or take out surface-to-air missiles.
The F-35 Factor: Because of his background as a simulator instructor, there are massive concerns that he shared insights into how our newest stealth tech actually operates in combat.

A Shadowy Connection

Perhaps the most "movie-like" part of this story is how he allegedly got the job. Feds linked him to a network involving Su Bin, a Chinese national who was previously jailed for hacking U.S. defense giants like Boeing to steal plans for the C-17 and F-35. It seems the goal wasn't just to steal the blueprints of the planes, but to hire the pilots who know how to fly them.

The Arrest

Brown was caught after returning to the U.S. to handle some personal business. When the FBI searched his home, they reportedly found a fake passport and encrypted messages. He’s currently under house arrest and facing up to 25 years in prison.

The Bottom Line

This case is a huge wake-up call. The U.S. government is now aggressively cracking down on retired service members taking "consulting" gigs with foreign militaries, especially China. It’s a stark reminder that in the world of high-stakes defense, your specialized skills remain a regulated "defense service"—even long after you hang up the flight suit.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Polish National Avoids Prison for Area 51 Photography Case, Chinese student arrested for photographing E-4B at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha.

Polish National Avoids Prison for Area 51 Photography Case

Photo bY Michal Rochita

A Polish national, Michal Miroslaw Rokita, was arrested in Las Vegas for photographing and recording sensitive U.S. military installations without authorization, but was ultimately sentenced to time served and avoided prison Yahoo+1.
Case Details

According to federal prosecutors, Rokita traveled to the United States on a Polish passport with the intent to unlawfully take images and audio/video of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) and the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) — both designated as “vital military installations” under U.S. law U.S. Department of Justice.

From April 7 to April 14, 2026, he photographed and recorded equipment, aircraft, and operations at these sites without permission from the installation commander U.S. Department of Justice.

Rokita then met with a naturalized U.S. citizen who operated the website DreamlandResort.com, which follows Area 51-related activity. He provided the files to the site owner, who has appeared in multiple Nevada news investigations Yahoo+1.

On April 11, 2026, Rokita participated in a YouTube livestream titled “Our fearless Field Investigator Michal reports from his recent recon mission to Tikaboo Peak”, where he and the site owner displayed and described numerous photos and videos U.S. Department of Justice.
Charges and Sentencing

Rokita pleaded guilty to:

Photographing defense installations without authorization

Publication of photographs of defense installations without authorization U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Magistrate Judge Maximiliano D. Couvillier III sentenced him to time served, meaning the case was immediately closed and he did not have to serve prison time Yahoo+1. He had been held in federal custody after his arrest.
Legal Context

Photography or recording of these installations is strictly prohibited, with fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in prison for violations Yahoo. The NTTR and TTR are under federal jurisdiction and protected by law.

Rokita’s case highlights the legal risks of unauthorized military photography, even for foreign nationals, and the consequences of sharing such material publicly.

Personal note: I met Michel last year when he visited Amarillo. He is a huge fan of this blog. He has made several trips to the perimeter of Area 51 and TTR - content for his blog and also reported for Dreamland Resort.

In related news:

A college student from China has been charged with illegally taking photos of U.S. military planes in Nebraska during a multi-state road trip that included a stop at an Air Force base in South Dakota.

Tianrui Liang, 21, was arrested April 7 at a New York airport while trying to leave the U.S. for Glasgow, Scotland, where he attends school, the FBI said in a court filing.

Liang admitted that he got out of a car on a public road in late March and took photos of an RC-135, a reconnaissance aircraft, and an E-4B at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, the FBI said.

The E-4B, known as the “Nightwatch”, can serve as an airborne command center for a president and military officials in times of emergency, according to the Air Force.

The FBI said it’s illegal to photograph or sketch defense installations without approval. Images of both planes are available online.

Friday, April 3, 2026

SECRETIVE RAT 55 SPOTTED IN AMARILLO

A secretive US Air Force jet was spotted at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.

Steve Douglass shot video of the NT-43A Radar Test Bed, also commonly referred to by the callsign RAT55, at the airport on Friday.

The NT-43A is a modified T-43 trainer which is believed to be used for evaluating the radar signatures of stealth aircraft.

It played a role in Wednesday's launch of Artemis II which is taking four astronauts on a 10-day mission around the moon and back. It's NASA's first moon trip since 1972.

“After decades of flights supporting the Air Force in various roles, the NT-43A Radar Test Bed is being transitioned to start the next phase of its career,” an Air Force spokesperson told The War Zone. “Beginning with data collection during the launch of Artemis II, the NT-43A Radar Test Bed will continue its legacy of excellence in supporting some of our nation’s most important and technologically advanced capabilities.”

TWZ said the RAT 55 is understood to be based at the Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada, and has been seen at Area 51.

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