Northrop Grumman and Boom Supersonic will be working together on offering Boom’s Overture aircraft as a supersonic quick-reaction platform.
The two sides revealed the agreement for collaboration on a special mission variant of the aircraft design at the Farnborough International Airshow.
“Pairing Northrop Grumman’s airborne defense systems integration expertise with Boom’s Overture supersonic aircraft makes perfect sense,” said Tom Jones, president of Northrop Grumman Aeronautic.
Designed to carry up to 80 passengers at twice the speed of today’s airliners, a special mission variant of Overture has the potential to support government and military missions that require rapid response, the two companies argue.
Fitted with specialized capabilities, the aircraft could be used to deliver medical supplies, provide for emergency medical evacuation or surveil vast areas faster than conventional aircraft. The special mission Overture variant could also be used to coordinate other aircraft and ground assets in a variety of scenarios.
“Time is a strategic advantage in high-consequence scenarios, from military operations to disaster response,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “This collaboration between Boom and Northrop Grumman unlocks Overture’s unmatched high-speed mission capability for the United States and its allies.”
The first Overture aircraft is expected to be in production for commercial use in 2024, with flight tests starting in 2026. It is set to begin carrying passengers in 2029.
