Northrop Tacit Blue “Whale”
The Tacit Blue was a top-secret aircraft developed by Northrop as part of the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to explore stealth technologies.
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Northrop Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer that was formed in 1939. It was a leading designer and manufacturer of original aircraft and pioneered the Flying Wing concept, which is still used today in modern aviation. In 1994, Northrop Corporation merged with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman Corporation, which is a major American manufacturer specializing in defense and commercial aerospace, electronics, and information-technology products.
From WWII fighters to futuristic bombers and Mars missions, Northrop’s influence runs deep across both military and space technology. It’s a company rooted in invention, shaped by ambition, and still quietly redefining what’s possible in aerospace.
Northrop was founded in 1939 by Jack Northrop, a pioneering aircraft designer with a passion for innovation. He was especially interested in flying wing designs, which would later influence some of the most iconic stealth aircraft ever built. His vision set the tone for a company that would constantly push the boundaries of aviation and technology.
In 1994, Northrop merged with Grumman Corporation, a company famous for building the Apollo Lunar Module, and became Northrop Grumman. Today, it’s a key contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied militaries, known for high-tech innovation and stealth capabilities.
Over the decades, Northrop has been responsible for developing some of the most iconic—and often unconventional—aircraft in aviation history. During World War II, it produced the P-61 Black Widow, the first U.S. warplane specifically designed as a night fighter, combining radar technology with formidable firepower. In the Cold War era, Northrop made its mark with the F-5 Freedom Fighter, a lightweight, affordable jet used by numerous allied nations, known for its agility and cost-effectiveness.
Northrop also developed the YF-17 Cobra, a prototype that would eventually evolve into the F/A-18 Hornet after being adopted by the Navy through a collaboration with McDonnell Douglas. Then came the experimental and odd-looking Tacit Blue, nicknamed the “Whale,” which, despite its bizarre appearance, played a critical role in the development of modern stealth technologies. Lessons learned from Tacit Blue directly influenced one of Northrop’s most groundbreaking achievements: the B-2 Spirit, a long-range stealth bomber with a futuristic flying wing design that reflected founder Jack Northrop’s early aerodynamic visions.
In the 21st century, Northrop Grumman has also been a major player in unmanned systems, notably with the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high-altitude surveillance drone used for intelligence gathering. Each of these aircraft—manned or unmanned, visible or stealthy—demonstrates Northrop’s enduring legacy of innovation and its unique contributions to the evolution of aviation and aerospace defense.
The Tacit Blue was a top-secret aircraft developed by Northrop as part of the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to explore stealth technologies.
The Northrop Grumman X-47B is a demonstration unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Northrop Grumman.
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy strategic bomber designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses.
The Northrop YF-17 was an American prototype lightweight fighter aircraft designed for the LWF technology evaluation program.
The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 is an American single-seat, twin-engine aircraft technology demonstrator built for the USAF.
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. warplane explicitly designed to be a night fighter.
The Northrop F-5 is a family of American supersonic light fighter aircraft designed in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation.
Aircraft manufacturers are the backbone of the aviation industry, responsible for designing, producing, and testing a wide range of aircraft, from small private planes to large commercial airliners and military jets. Major manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Embraer have shaped the evolution of flight, driving technological advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion systems. Explore more below.
