New Northrop Grumman video provides first unobstructed view of the Vanguard-based uncrewed plane that may help AI and autonomy growth.
On Jul. 22, 2025, Northrop Grumman launched a brand new video that includes the corporate’s second quarter 2025 highlights. Among the many footage (that embrace the B-2, the B-21 and the Golden Dome – the proposed multi-layer protection system for the US) is the primary full view of the Beacon autonomous testbed plane exterior the hangar, providing the clearest look but on the platform Northrop is utilizing to validate AI-driven mission autonomy software program.
Beacon, first unveiled on June 18, 2025, is an element of a bigger testbed ecosystem designed to speed up growth and testing of uncrewed and optionally crewed mission autonomy. The plane utilized in this system relies on the Mannequin 437 Vanguard, a twin-engine, optionally-piloted platform developed by Scaled Composites and modified by Northrop Grumman for autonomous operations.
In earlier imagery, the Beacon plane was solely seen inside a hangar or partially obscured. Some shut up photos confirmed the V-tail of the plane with the “Beacon” markings. The brand new video offers a quick, full view of the plane on the ramp at nightfall. No surprises in fact, contemplating its form was very well-known: the plane options mid-mounted swept wings with trapezoidal inboard panels, a traditional fuselage, and a particular V-tail.
As reported in our earlier article on the Beacon, the plane is just not meant for operational service however serves as a versatile airborne check platform to help experimentation with new autonomy stacks, collaborative fight behaviors, and adaptive mission software program. It’s designed to combine third-party mission autonomy software program with Northrop Grumman’s current flight software program and airframe management programs.
In response to the small print launched by Northrop Grumman when Beacon was unveiled, the plane provides an open-access growth atmosphere that enables exterior companions, together with startups and non-traditional protection corporations, to check their autonomy options in a sensible, flight-validated setting. The aim is to shorten growth cycles and cut back integration threat earlier than deploying software program onto operational platforms.
We’ve unveiled Beacon: an autonomous testbed ecosystem that may prepared the ground towards innovative mission autonomy capabilities. Be taught extra: pic.twitter.com/qxkMuOpLhA
— Northrop Grumman (@NGCNews) June 18, 2025
“Beacon is sixth-generation autonomous software program growth,” mentioned Tom Jones, president of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Programs. “It’s backed by our many years of management in designing and constructing operational autonomous plane, and it’s serving as a bridge throughout trade to considerably cut back the time and value it takes to carry new autonomous mission capabilities to our clients.”
Northrop Grumman has confirmed that flight demonstrations with Beacon are deliberate for this 12 months, though no particular timeline has been disclosed. With a number of companions reportedly concerned within the ecosystem, Beacon is predicted to function a central node in a broader autonomy prototyping technique that aligns with U.S. Division of Protection objectives for open architectures and fast expertise adoption.
Whereas it isn’t formally linked to the Subsequent Era Air Dominance (NGAD) program or Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA) initiative, the Beacon ecosystem might help autonomy growth related to each. By separating software program validation from full airframe growth, Northrop goals to fast-track autonomous capabilities that may later be ported to manufacturing platforms.
Whether or not Beacon stays solely a check platform or serves as a pathfinder for future low-observable uncrewed programs stays to be seen, however its “public rollout” on social media, factors to rising confidence in each its maturity and strategic relevance.
We’ll proceed to comply with Beacon’s growth as flight testing progresses and additional particulars emerge.
