Scaled Composites Model 437 Vanguard

The Scaled Composites Model 437, also called the Vanguard, is a crewed technology demonstrator jet that Scaled Composites built for its parent company Northrop Grumman. It began as a conceptual design based on the Model 401, exploring a multi-mission low-cost attritable aircraft, and the crewed variant has a single Pratt and Whitney 535 engine with about 3,400 pounds of thrust, a wingspan and length of 41 feet and a gross takeoff weight of 10,000 pounds. Scaled took the clean-sheet design from concept to flight in 21 months, while Northrop Grumman designed and built the removable wings as part of its Digital Pathfinder effort to show digitally engineered wings. It first flew on 29 August 2024 from Mojave, California. After first flight it was modified to host Northrop Grumman's Talon IQ autonomy system, with a safety pilot on board, and its stated range is about 3,000 nautical miles with up to 2,000 pounds of payload.