Less than a year after proving the flight efficiency and reliability of a novel rotor-blown wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS), Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is unveiling its Nomad™ future family of aircraft.  

The twin proprotor design combines the versatility of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aeroplane. A Nomad aircraft can take off, hover, and land vertically, as well as cruise on the wing for extended periods. 

Nomads are operated via Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy technology and predominantly use hybrid-electric propulsion, while larger variants will feature a conventional drivetrain.

According to the company, the term ‘family’ highlights a key attribute of the design – its scalability – allowing it to range in size from a small Group 3 UAS to one with the footprint of a Black Hawk helicopter.

The resulting Nomad family of drones will be adaptable, go-anywhere, runway-independent aircraft capable of land and sea-based missions across defence, national security, forestry, and civilian organisations. 

Nomads are a force multiplier, complementing the missions of aircraft such as the Black Hawk to maintain the strategic advantage in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

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Sikorsky announced in March 2025 the successful extended flight test of its 10.3-ft wingspan prototype Nomad 50 aircraft. Today, the company is building its Nomad 100 aircraft – a Group 3, 18-ft wingspan variant, with its first flight expected in the coming months. 

Nomad UAS are designed for reconnaissance, light attack, contested logistics and more. 

The Nomad family can be scaled from a Group 3 UAS (56 pounds to 1,320 pounds) to Group 4/5 (1,320 pounds and above). The family is powered by fuel-efficient hybrid-electric drivetrains, with larger variants incorporating a conventional drivetrain. 

MATRIX technology, developed by Sikorsky Innovations and DARPA, is an open system that allows seamless integration with rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. It has already been demonstrated across a range of applications, including aerial firefighting, logistics resupply, and advanced aerial mobility. 

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