Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit is launching a new family of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) dubbed Nomad, aiming to deliver versatile, scalable drone capabilities across military and civilian operations by merging helicopter maneuverability with fixed-wing aircraft speed.
The core of the Nomad system is its “rotor blown wing” configuration. This innovative design mounts dual rotors onto an extended wing, using the airflow over the wing surface to generate additional lift during vertical flight.
This technology allows the aircraft to achieve vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) like a helicopter, while also providing the speed and extended range typically associated with fixed-wing airplanes. The wing aids both vertical lift and the transition to horizontal flight.
Sikorsky has expressed significant confidence in this approach, announcing a full family of Nomad aircraft. These drones are designed to be scalable, offering variants from small Group 3 UAS, weighing up to 599 kilograms, to larger Group 4-5 drones comparable in size to a Black Hawk helicopter.
“We use the term ‘family’ to highlight a key design feature: its scalability, from a small Group 3 UAS to a Black Hawk helicopter equivalent,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky Vice President and General Manager.
The Nomad family is intended for a broad range of missions. Military applications include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and attack (ISRA), logistics in contested areas, maritime patrol, and persistent communications.
Civilian uses are equally diverse, encompassing search and rescue, forest monitoring, firefighting, humanitarian response, and pipeline surveillance. The VTOL capability ensures rapid deployment in dispersed areas without requiring runways.
The smallest prototype, the Nomad 50, features a 3.14-meter wingspan and weighs 52 kilograms. It has already undergone flight testing this year. The next model, the Nomad 100, will have a 5.5-meter wingspan, with other variants also under development.
Smaller Nomad models will utilize hybrid electric propulsion, while larger versions will be powered by conventional engines. All Nomads will integrate Lockheed’s Matrix digital autopilot system. This system manages all aspects of flight, from takeoff to landing, and includes capabilities for obstacle and threat detection and evasion.
Benton emphasized the strategic value of the new platform. “The Nomad family of drones will be adaptable, runway-independent, capable of land and sea missions in defense, national security, forests, and civil organizations,” he stated. “Nomads multiply force, complementing aircraft like the Black Hawk and maintaining strategic advantage in the Indo-Pacific and other regions.”