Another model of a guided drone has been developed for the US Air Force. Despite the fact that it was previously reported that the company dropped out of the tender, yesterday, September 10, the press service of Northrop Grumman published a render of a promising combat drone under the Skyborg program.
According to the portal flightglobal.com, a drone named Model 437 was developed as part of the US Air Force Skyborg program. It will add to the already significant range of military drones from Northrop Grumman. So, in addition to a number of serial drones supplied to the US Armed Forces and allies, the company participates in the LANCA project of the British Air Force.
Render of the Model 437 drone
Image source: northropgrumman.com
Northrop Grumman points out that the Model 437 is being developed on the basis of an unmanned version of the experimental Model 401 aircraft. At the same time, the developers intend to bring the drone based on the Model 401 to mass production, while the Model 437 will be its "big brother", lifting a payload of greater mass into the air and having a longer flight range.
Model 401 Drone Render
Image source: northropgrumman.com
According to the developers, the cost of a serial Model 437 drone will be about $5-6 million. Of these, almost half will be accounted for by the Williams FJ44 engine ($2.4 million). Such a powerful engine is necessary to achieve the requirements of the US Air Force to create a UAV with a flight range of 2,600 nautical miles (4,830 km) and a cruising speed of 533 knots. This should allow the Model 437 to keep up with the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter. The key difference between the Model 437 and competitors under the Skyborg program will be the presence of a chassis and removable wings (possibly several types).
