Northrop reveals Project Talon, a drone wingman for "multiple missions"
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The Project Talon aircraft. Photo: Courtesy of Northrop Grumman
MOJAVE, CALIF. — Northrop Grumman on Wednesday revealed Project Talon, a robo-wingman expected to fly next year, to a select few reporters gathered in the California desert.
Why it matters: Only one of the drones exists today. But it's designed to be manufactured en masse relatively cheaply, which should appeal to the Pentagon.
- Multiple countries and U.S. military services have expressed interest, said Tom Jones, Northrop's president of aeronautics systems.
- "We've kept this under wraps for quite a while," he added. "If you buy one, we'll paint it any color you want."
The intrigue: Wednesday's surprise reveal came during a tour of the Mojave Air and Space Port.
- As Jones teased the "next step" in military autonomy, hangar doors were peeled back — and there it was.
The big picture: Defense departments worldwide are clamoring for drones of all sizes, including ones big enough and smart enough to fly alongside manned aircraft, like the F-22, F-35 and future F-47.
- Both the U.S. Air Force and Navy have asked industry for these so-called collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA. While Northrop didn't make the Air Force cut, it's now working on designs for the Navy, in competition with a handful of other defense contractors.
- Jones said Project Talon is "significantly different" than its initial Air Force offering. It's about 1,000 pounds lighter with far fewer parts.
Zoom in: Project Talon, previously known as Project Lotus, is at least 15 months old. The work has been split between Northrop and its Scaled Composites subsidiary. (The two are also working closely on the Beacon initiative.)
- The aircraft itself was designed with "multiple missions" in mind, according to Jones, and has "payload space."
- Neither company would reveal details about its engine.
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