Overview
- Northrop revealed the Talon prototype at Mojave, targeting a first flight around fall 2026, roughly within two years of project start.
- The aircraft reached weight on wheels in about 15 months through a joint Northrop–Scaled Composites effort with engineering split roughly 50/50.
- Northrop claims Talon is about 1,000 pounds lighter than its prior CCA design with a fully composite structure, roughly 50% fewer parts, and about a 30% faster build time.
- Company officials withheld engine, performance, payload, and cost details, stating the focus is on producibility and cost, and they have not committed Talon as an Increment 2 entry despite reported interest from U.S. services and international customers.
- Public reporting notes features consistent with reduced observability and FAA data lists the prototype as Model 444 with registration N444LX as the Air Force prepares concept refinement awards for Increment 2 in early fiscal 2026.