A new type of multi-mission military aircraft called the Model 437 Vanguard recently took its maiden flight. It was developed by Scaled Composites in partnership with Northrop Grumman.
The Vanguard was initially conceived as an advanced drones concept but has evolved into a crewed aircraft to demonstrate its adaptability. Its first flight occured in August 2024 in California.
The aircraft has a wingspan and length of 41 feet, weighs 10,000 pounds, and can fly up to 3,000 nautical miles with an endurance of 6 hours. It carries a variety of payloads including missiles and sensors.
The Vanguard is powered by a single engine and has a V-tail configuration. It is designed for missions like air combat and intelligence gathering. Future versions may be fully autonomous.
Its development uses digital engineering tools which reduced rework to less than 1% compared to traditional methods. This cuts costs and speeds development.
The Vanguard’s flexibility and advanced technology make it a promising platform for a variety of military roles. Its digital development process may also influence future aircraft programs.
Source: Fox News
