Sikorsky Unveils “Nomad”: The Future of Autonomous Vertical Take-Off Aircraft

Less than a year after demonstrating the flight efficiency and reliability of its groundbreaking rotor-blown wing VTOL drone, Sikorsky—a Lockheed Martin company—has unveiled its Nomad™ family of next-generation aircraft.

The twin-proprotor Nomad merges the flexibility of a helicopter with the speed and endurance of a fixed-wing airplane. Designed to take off, hover, and land vertically, the aircraft can also transition smoothly to wing-borne flight for extended missions. Operated by Sikorsky’s MATRIX™ autonomy technology, the Nomad series primarily uses hybrid-electric propulsion, with larger variants featuring a traditional drivetrain.

“We use the term ‘family’ to emphasize scalability—from a small Group 3 drone to a Black Hawk-sized aircraft,” explained Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s Vice President and General Manager. “Nomads will be runway-independent and mission-adaptable, ready for land and sea operations across defense, security, and civilian domains. They will act as force multipliers, complementing platforms like the Black Hawk to maintain strategic superiority in regions such as the Indo-Pacific.”

In March 2025, Sikorsky successfully completed an extended flight test of its Nomad 50, a 10.3-foot wingspan prototype. The company is now building the Nomad 100, an 18-foot wingspan variant with its maiden flight expected soon.

A New Era of VTOL Autonomy

Designed for reconnaissance, light attack, and contested logistics, the Nomad family can scale from Group 3 (56–1,320 lbs) to Group 4/5 (over 1,320 lbs). Its fuel-efficient hybrid-electric system ensures longer endurance, while larger models utilize conventional engines for added power.

At the heart of the Nomad’s autonomy is MATRIX technology, co-developed by Sikorsky Innovations and DARPA. This open architecture allows seamless integration with both rotary and fixed-wing platforms and has been proven in missions such as aerial firefighting, logistics resupply, and advanced air mobility.

“Nomad represents a major leap for autonomous flight,” said Dan Shidler, Director of Advanced Programs. “We’ve listened to Pentagon feedback, adopted a fast-paced approach, and built a family of drones that can operate anywhere—fully autonomously and ready to serve the needs of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.”

With the Nomad program, Sikorsky is charting a bold course toward a new generation of autonomous, multi-role VTOL aircraft, reshaping the skies of both defense and civilian aviation