Northrop Grumman reveals Project Talon: the next-gen drone wingman
Northrop Grumman just introduced Project Talon, a new drone designed to fly alongside fighter jets like the F-35 and F-22.
The US Air Force is planning to build up to 1,000 Loyal Wingmen drones, with Project Talon as one of the contenders, aiming for smarter and faster support in the skies.
This move is part of a bigger push to speed up autonomous tech for military aircraft.
What makes Talon stand out?
Talon isn't just another drone—it can gather intel, act as a decoy, and even carry missiles, all powered by advanced AI.
Northrop Grumman has made it lighter and simpler than older models, cutting down on parts and production time.
They're aiming for quick rollouts (just 15 months from design to prototype) while keeping costs in check—about $23-25 million each for the Air Force, and $15 million for the Navy.