Overview
- Northrop Grumman announced that its YFQ-48A Talon Blue completed a fully autonomous flight on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, conducting autonomous taxi, takeoff, in‑flight maneuvers and landing from Mojave Air and Space Port.
- The flight is part of Project Talon, an internally funded effort that Northrop says uses modular design and advanced manufacturing to reduce part count, weight and unit cost so large uncrewed combat jets can be produced faster.
- Northrop confirmed Pratt & Whitney's PW500 family will power the demonstrator and said Scaled Composites built the aircraft at Mojave, giving the program a distinct propulsion and testbed pedigree.
- Talon Blue enters a crowded CCA field as a potential contender for the USAF's planned Increment 2 purchase, competing with platforms already in flight testing or production such as designs from Anduril, General Atomics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Kratos.
- Key details remain undisclosed, including exact test profiles, payload carriage and USAF selection plans, and the program's next milestones will determine whether Talon Blue can translate its demonstration into production contracts and wider allied sales.