Meet Lockheed Martin's new VTOL drones, the Sikorsky Nomads
Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky just revealed Nomad, a fresh family of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones.
Thanks to their "rotor blown wing" design, these drones can handle everything from surveillance and light attack to delivering supplies—no runway needed.
The lineup ranges from the compact 10.3-foot Nomad 50 prototype to the larger 18-foot Nomad 100, with first flight expected in the coming months.
All Nomad drones come equipped with Sikorsky's MATRIX autonomy system
Nomad drones come in two main types: smaller Group 3 versions with hybrid-electric engines, and bigger Group 4 models running on conventional fuel.
All are equipped with Sikorsky's MATRIX autonomy system for fully self-piloted flights and easy integration with current military tech.
Their modular build means they can swap payloads for different missions—even in tough environments.
Nomad can switch between flying styles, making it more efficient
With their twin proprotor wings, Nomads get extra lift during takeoff and while switching between flying styles, leading to longer flights and more flexible missions than most VTOL drones today.
The scalable design covers a wider range than older models like the RQ-7 Shadow—making them ready for anything from quick recon runs to challenging supply drops, all without needing a runway.