Less than a year after validating the efficiency and reliability of its novel rotor-blown wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) concept, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has revealed the Nomad™ family of long-endurance, runway-independent drones.
Designed as a scalable platform, the Nomad family ranges from small Group 3 Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) to larger Group 4/5 aircraft approaching the size and footprint of a Black Hawk helicopter. The family shares a twin proprotor configuration, enabling each aircraft to take off, hover, and land vertically—while cruising efficiently on the wing for extended missions.
“The term family reflects the scalability of the design,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager at Sikorsky. “From smaller tactical systems to aircraft capable of supporting major logistics or maritime operations, Nomad drones are adaptable, runway-independent, and built to serve missions across defense, national security, and civil sectors.”
Powered primarily by hybrid-electric propulsion, Nomad variants will also feature conventional drivetrains in larger configurations. The aircraft are operated through Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy technology, an open system enabling seamless integration with both rotary and fixed-wing platforms. MATRIX has already been demonstrated in firefighting, logistics, and advanced aerial mobility missions.
The current program roadmap includes the Nomad 50, a 10.3-ft wingspan prototype that completed successful extended flight tests in early 2025, and the in-development Nomad 100, an 18-ft Group 3 variant scheduled for first flight later this year.
“Nomad represents the next generation of autonomous, long-endurance VTOL aircraft,” said Dan Shidler, director of Advanced Programs at Sikorsky. “We’re building on direct feedback from military users, accelerating development, and delivering systems that can take off and land virtually anywhere—executing missions autonomously in the hands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.”
With its rotor-blown wing technology, hybrid propulsion, and open autonomy architecture, Nomad stands as Sikorsky’s latest contribution to Lockheed Martin’s vision for 21st Century Security®—developing adaptable, intelligent platforms that sustain operational advantage in future contested environments.
