Northrop Grumman Jackal

Expendable Loitering Munition Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) [ 2024 ]

The Northrop Grumman Jackal was unveiled at a special forces conference in May 2022 as a jet-powered loitering munition solution.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/08/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The ongoing war in Ukraine has placed a global spotlight on the value of drones and, in particular, the "loitering munition" subgroup. These Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) patrol the skies in search for ground targets of opportunity. The simplicity of the role, coupled with generally ease-of-operation in design, has allowed smaller global powers to develop indigenous solutions through local means - no longer making loitering munitions a tool of the superpower.

Northrop Grumman has teamed with the UAS experts at AeroVironment to development the man-portable "Jackal" loitering munition concept. Unlike other loitering munitions, typically driven by electric or combustion motors / engines driving propellers, the Jackal is powered by a turbojet engine to achieve excellent performance. The system can, therefore, reach straightline attack speeds of 300 miles-per-hour and has an operational range out to 60 miles, loitering over contested areas for fifteen minutes as it seeks and targets unsuspecting elements below.

The program began development in 2017 under the direction of the Armament Systems Division of Northrop Grumman out of Plymouth, Minnesota. It was unveiled at Special Operations Forces Industry Conference 2022 held in Florida during May 2022.

The aircraft is given a missile-like appearance with a tubular body, rounded nosecone, and twin-finned (outward-canted) tail unit. Mainplanes are affixed at midships and are low-mounted with down-turned tips. An air intake is set ahead of the tailplanes for the air-breathing turbojet unit.

While an attack platform at heart, the Jackal is being developed as a multirole over-battlefield solution through modularity. Beyond its ability to carry a 10 lb war head, the airframe is also able to accept special-mission equipment (such as jammers and sensors) in its place to better cover the traditional Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) role.

For AeroVironment's part in the program, this advanced attack drone product is an evolution to its highly-regarded "Switchblade" line of expendable loitering munitions (detailed elsewhere on this site) coupled with the backing of American defense powerhouse Northrop Grumman.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

AeroVironment / Northrop Grumman - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States (possible)
Operators

2024
Service Year

United States
National Origin

In-Development
Project Status

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

5
Units

GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

SPECIAL-MISSION: AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
Specially-equipped platform providing over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) capability for allied aerial elements.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

SPECOPS
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.

UNMANNED
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

WINGLETS
Mainplanes capped with winglets, providing improved fuel efficiency and enhanced handling.

HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.

UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.

1 x Turbojet engine of unknown make, model, and thrust output.
Propulsion

326 mph
(525 kph | 283 knots)
Max Speed

289 mph
(465 kph | 251 knots)
Cruise Speed

+37 mph
(+60 kph | 32 knots)
Speed Difference

20,013 ft
(6,100 m | 4 miles)
Ceiling

62 miles
(100 km | 54 nm)
Range

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

10lb explosive impact-detonated warhead integrated into the airframe; can be replaced with special-mission equipment as needed.

0
Hardpoints

Jackal - Base Series Name.

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Images

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Image from Northrop Grumman.

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