Kept under wraps by Northrop Grumman, the Model 437 Vanguard stealth jet completed its maiden flight on August 29 from Mojave Air & Space, at Mojave Airport, California.
The small jet developed by Scaled Composites is based on the Model 401 and would be a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), that is, unmanned.
At 41 feet long and 41 feet wide, the Vanguard is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney 535 engine with approximately 3,400 pounds of thrust whose dorsal air intake is located just behind the pilot’s canopy.
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The aircraft has removable semi-trapezoidal wings developed by Northrop Grumman using digital tools. In addition, the M437 can carry 2,000 pounds of cargo in an internal compartment, capable of accommodating up to two AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
3,000 nautical miles range
It is not yet clear what the Vanguard will be used for, but its expected performance shows that the aircraft has the potential to be a cheap and fast solution for the United States Air Force (USAF).
According to Scaled Composites, the jet will be able to fly for about 3,000 nautical miles and remain in the air for up to 6 hours. Its speed is estimated at Mach 0.8.
The aircraft has a civil registration number N437VN and has a V-tail that should help reduce its radar signature. The manned variant may also be a future export option.
