Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Scaled Composites Vanguard has taken to the air, and like most designs from Northrop Grumman’s experimental division, it’s different.
Small, light in weight and powered by a relatively low power jet engine, the aircraft has the look of a miniature stealth fighter plane, and can carry 2000 pounds of ordnance, including two air to air missiles in an enclosed weapons bay. The airplane is clearly designed to have a low radar cross-section, essential for survival in any contested airspace today.
For Northrop Grumman, this may be a replay of the company’s low-cost, lightweight fighter concept, a big hit from the early 1960s: the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
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#ScaledComposites #NorthrupGrumman #Vanguard
The Scaled Composites Vanguard has taken to the air, and like most designs from Northrop Grumman’s experimental division, it’s different.
Small, light in weight and powered by a relatively low power jet engine, the aircraft has the look of a miniature stealth fighter plane, and can carry 2000 pounds of ordnance, including two air to air missiles in an enclosed weapons bay. The airplane is clearly designed to have a low radar cross-section, essential for survival in any contested airspace today.
For Northrop Grumman, this may be a replay of the company’s low-cost, lightweight fighter concept, a big hit from the early 1960s: the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
* * *
engineering.com TV:
Watch in-depth engineering videos made for the engineering professional and found exclusively on engineering.com TV:
Panel Expert Roundtables: engineering.com/category/watch/the-engineering-roundtable
For the Design Engineer: engineering.com/category/watch/designing-the-future
For the Manufacturing Engineer: engineering.com/category/watch/manufacturing-the-future
* * *
STEM GAMES:
Play some fun engineering-based STEM games on engineering.com:
engineering.com/games
* * *
#ScaledComposites #NorthrupGrumman #Vanguard
