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.