Jun 18, 2025 - Technology

Exclusive: Northrop launches "Beacon" autonomy partnership using Model 437 aircraft

Colin Demarest

A tail of an experimental aircraft is seen against a black background. Few details of the plane are seen other than labels that say "Northrop Grumman" and "Beacon." — Northrop Grumman told Axios it wants to "pave the way for the future of autonomy." Photo: Courtesy of Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is collaborating with at least four other companies to more-quickly test and deliver autonomy under a previously undisclosed initiative dubbed Beacon.

Why it matters: "There are a lot of new companies, particularly in the AI space and the autonomy space, that are out there doing a lot of very interesting things," Tom Jones, the president of Northrop's aeronautics systems sector, told Axios at the Paris Air Show.

"There's been this idea that with some of these small companies — these new entrants — it's 'us versus them.' It's an 'either or,'" he added. "I don't think it is."

State of play: The Beacon test bed involves digital environments and real-world trials using a modified Model 437 Vanguard aircraft made by Northrop subsidiary Scaled Composites.

Flights are expected this year.
Beacon was realized using internal research-and-development money.

The intrigue: Shield AI, maker of the V-BAT drone and Hivemind autonomy software, is among the initial round of partners.

Three other memorandums of agreement have been signed. A few more are in the pipeline.
"We know them. We can work well together. We know what their product does," Jones said. "We're able to very rapidly show customers: Here's what this capability can bring."

Zoom out: Unmanned technologies and other smart machinery are in high demand around the world.

The U.S. Air Force wants robo-wingmen flying alongside its F-35s and -47s. The Navy, meanwhile, wants its warships flanked by drone boats toting jammers, interceptors and communication relays.

The bottom line: "We want to dispel this idea that big companies can't move fast, can't be innovative," Jones said.

Northrop is the fourth largest defense contractor in the world when ranked by defense-related revenue.

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Exclusive: Northrop launches "Beacon" autonomy partnership using Model 437 aircraft

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