Data Quality82%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the reconnaissance / surveillance drones category.
01 / Overview
Northrop Grumman KQ-X
Country
Prime contractor
Production
2010–2012
Quantity
2
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES · MODERN ERA
6
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
40
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the reconnaissance / surveillance drones category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- UAV ClassHALE UAV
- Category (MALE/HALE/Tactical/Micro)Reconnaissance / Surveillance Drone
- First Flight2012
- Primary Roleautonomous aerial refueling demonstrator
- In ServiceNo
◈Airframe5MOD.5
- Length35.4 m
- Wingspan39.9 m
- Height7.9 m
- Empty Weight13,500 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight14,600 kg
▣Powerplant3MOD.3
- Engine Typeturbofan
- Number of Engines1
- Electric PropulsionNo
◇Performance3MOD.3
- Top Speed630 km/h
- Service Ceiling20,000 m
- Endurance120
◆Payload & Sensors1MOD.1
- EO/IR SensorYes
▤Armament2MOD.2
⬢Control & Autonomy3MOD.3
- Control Typeautonomous formation control
- Satellite (BLOS) LinkYes
- Autonomous CapableYes
▲Production2MOD.2
- Total Built2
- Operators0
◎Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year2012
- Production Start2010
- Production End2012
- Operational Statusprogram cancelled, no operational service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 2010Production started
- 2012Production ended
16
years in service
2
years in production
2
units produced
1
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
Northrop Grumman KQ-X 
06 / MASS Score
RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES RANKING Reconnaissance / Surveillance Drones · Modern Era
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
16RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES6MODERN ERA · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES383UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS266PERFORMANCE/PRICE · RECONNAISSANCE / SURVEILLANCE DRONES
ⓘ Rankings are within theReconnaissance / Surveillance Dronescategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE3terms
Capable of performing tasks or missions without direct human control, using onboard systems to make decisions and execute actions.
Electro-optical/infrared sensor combining daylight cameras and thermal imagers for real-time target detection, tracking, and identification in military drones.
A communication link between a drone and its control station via satellite relay, enabling beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources