Firebird
Firebird
Proven airframe with autonomous mission capability

Mission Ready
Northrop Grumman’s Firebird product line delivers a proven airframe with autonomous mission capability. Available in manned, autonomous and optionally piloted configurations, Firebird is designed to provide ISR payload and cockpit flexibility through truly open architecture and plug-and-play payload integration.
The system’s unique hardware- and software enable users to carry out a wide range of ISR missions for 30 plus hours at approximately 25,000 feet.

Mission Flexibility
Firebird’s innovative architecture represent a new approach to delivering medium altitude ISR. Our technology enables true mission flexibility, allowing users to accomplish their mission through different pilot and payload configurations, whether for line-of-sight or beyond-line-of sight operations.
Firebird Video

Join the Ecosystem
Northrop Grumman is looking for hardware and software partners to join the Firebird ecosystem and build on Firebird’s existing foundation to expand capability and enable the system to complete new missions. Specific areas of interest include but aren’t limited to:
- EO/IR
- AIS
- ESM / SIGINT
- Radar (Maritime, Air-to-Air, Air-to-Ground)
- Communications
- Tracking & Artificial Intelligence
- Environmental & Scientific

Firebird Experience
The flexibility of the Firebird extends through the ownership experience. To enable ownership flexibility, we are establishing a system to allow customers to speed the time from decision to delivery. Owning Firebird will come with not only the aircraft, but the option to create add-ons that can adapt to your needs, whether its different configurations, mission-specific payloads, scalable ground control stations, and even different product support packages. All of these offerings allow you to tailor the operational support and mission set of Firebird to meet your needs. For questions about owning and operating Firebird, please contact us.
Take the Firebird Customer Experience Survey >
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General Specifications | |
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Length | 34.4 ft (10.5m) |
Wingspan | 79.2 ft (24.1m) |
Height | 10.6 ft (3.2m) |
Max Take-off Weight | 7,100 lbs (3,220 kg) |
Propulsion | 400 HP Lycoming Engine |
Fuel | Avgas |
Hard Points | 3 (L/R wing, 1 Centerline) |
Performance | |
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Endurance | 30+ hrs. |
Mission Payload | 1,700+ lbs (771 kg) |
Ceiling | 25,000 ft. MSL (7.6 km) |
Typical Cruise Speed | 135 KTAS at 20k Ft. (6 km) |
Communications | LOS/BLOS |
Firebird News


Northrop Grumman’s Firebird Completes Successful Multi-Day Capability Demonstration Flights

Northrop Grumman Announces New Orders for its Optionally Piloted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance System Ahead of European Debut


Northrop Grumman Plans To Upend Aerial Surveillance Market With Their Optionally Manned Firebird

Contact Us
Product Line Inquiries
Jon Haun
858-618-6698
Media Inquiries
Melissa Dolan
858-618-7630