NGC and Boom Supersonic Collaborate on New Supersonic Aircraft for Quick-Reaction Missions

A new supersonic aircraft tailored to provide quick-reaction capabilities to the U.S. military and allies will be offered through a collaborative agreement between Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Boom Supersonic.

Rendering of the special-mission variant of the Overture supersonic special-mission aircraft for the U.S. military and allies.

The agreement to together propose special mission variants of Boom’s Overture supersonic aircraft was finalized at the Farnborough International Air Show.

“Pairing Northrop Grumman’s airborne defense systems integration expertise with Boom’s advanced Overture supersonic aircraft demonstrates the power of collaborations like this for the benefit of our customers,” said Tom Jones, president, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “Together we can ensure our military customers have variants of Overture for missions where advanced system capabilities and speed are critical.”  

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.

Tom Jones, left, president for Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, and Blake Scholl, right, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Boom Supersonic, commemorate the collaborative agreement by both companies to work together in offering a supersonic special-mission aircraft to the U.S. government and allies during the Farnborough International Air Show on July 18. The aircraft will be based on Boom’s Overture supersonic airliner. (Photo courtesy of Boom Supersonic)

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 Chief Executive Officer 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.”

Designed and built in the United States, the first Overture aircraft will be in production for commercial use in 2024, start flight tests in 2026 and begin carrying passengers in 2029.

Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 90,000 employees define possible every day.

Boom Supersonic is transforming air travel with Overture, the fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner. Carrying 65–80 passengers, Overture will fly at twice the speed of today’s airliners and will run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Overture's order book, including purchases and options from United Airlines and Japan Airlines, stands at 70 aircraft. Boom is also working with the U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman for military and defense applications of Overture. Suppliers collaborating with Boom on the Overture program include Collins Aerospace, Eaton, Safran Landing Systems, and Rolls-Royce. For more information, visit https://boomsupersonic.com .