Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue, a candidate for a production contract under the U.S. Army’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, completed its first fully autonomous flight, the manufacturer announced Saturday.
The flight, which took place in Mojave, California, included autonomous taxi, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers, and landing. The design is internally funded and aims to reduce part count and overall weight, lowering manufacturing costs and supporting faster production to meet growing military demand for autonomous systems. It includes a high air intake, wide wheelbase, and integrated weapons bay designed for U.S. military and allied partner mission needs.
