Manufacturer Learning Valuable Lessons

As the race for the “autonomous wingman” continues, Northrup Grumman announced their latest entrant into the market as Project Talon, a modular UAS they hope hits the sweet spot between cost and performance.

Talon will have been designed, built, and (hopefully) flight-ready in less than two years, which helps to keep its basic tech up-to-date and modern. Northrup Grumman designed it with modularity in mind, which will speed up every step from manufacturing to service. Once on the frontline, a modular aircraft can be modified for the mission, too, which has usually been the real point of the modularity… but events back East have really demonstrated the value of affordable uncrewed systems. Their loss against General Atomics and Anduril for the CCA contract further drove the lesson home: There’s no place for a 30 -million-dollar drone in 2026 and beyond. Lockheed appears to be taking that to heart. 

Attendees of a December 3rd media introduction paint an interesting portrait, too: Northrup Grumman is laser-focused on breaking their habits of making super-expensive kit. Beacon was a high performance model, but it was just too costly in the end, yielding to Anduril and General Atomics’ work. That being said, their CCA wasn’t cheap by any means. The CCA concept in general expects costs to ring up at about a third of a modern crewed fighter, around $25 to $35 million overall. The first procurement of that CCA contract will see 100 to 150 aircraft under Increment 1. Increment 2 expects to bring that pricetag down further, at least as far below $20 million as they can realistically get it. It’s understandable that nobody quite has the numbers yet – it’s an all-new category of aircraft that will ultimately make its strength in numbers, so volume production will be its saving grace in the future. 

Talon is reportedly 1,000 pounds lighter than Northrup Grumman's increment 1 design, thanks to parts reductions. That yields quicker construction, too, with all the attendant benefits that provides in service. The Talon is not expected to be an entrant for the next increment of the CCA program, however, or so the rumor goes. Northrup Grumman seems to be using this as a developmental system to improve their in-house talent and knowhow ahead of any future offering. If they could get it below that $20M price tag, then things could change, but for now it seems they’re comfortable simply pushing the platform as far as it can go. They plan to fly the first Talon by Fall 2026.

FMI: www.NorthrupGrumman.com