AviationNews – Defence contractors Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin have successfully completed the initial ground and flight testing phase of the Nomad 100, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial system developed in collaboration with DARPA. The successful test series validates a major milestone in delivering long-endurance, runway-independent aircraft for tactical reconnaissance and contested logistics missions.
Unveiled under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Early VTOL Aircraft Demonstration (EVADE) program—an extension of the ANCILLARY project—the Nomad 100 represents Sikorsky’s dedicated entry into the uncrewed aircraft market. Developed by Sikorsky Innovations, the platform combines decades of advanced rotorcraft expertise with artificial intelligence and Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy flight control system. DARPA selected the MATRIX technology as the universal autonomy solution across all five flight platforms participating in the EVADE program, establishing a unified software foundation for future tactical uncrewed operations.
The Nomad 100 features a novel rotor-blown wing architecture with an 18-foot wingspan and a twin-proprotor propulsion system. The aircraft sits vertically on its tail to launch and hover like a helicopter before transitioning smoothly into horizontal wing-borne flight for high-speed cruise and extended range. This runway-independent design enables seamless operations from austere forward bases, ship decks, and unimproved landing zones without requiring external launch or recovery infrastructure.
“Nomad 100’s ongoing flight testing reflects our commitment to advancing autonomous technology while delivering safe and reliable mission capabilities that equip customers to fill critical operational gaps,” stated Rich Benton, Vice President and General Manager of Sikorsky. “Nomad will serve as part of a crewed-uncrewed team complementing missions anywhere from austere forward operating bases to ship decks and unimproved landing zones.”
Following this initial success, Sikorsky and DARPA will transition the Nomad 100 to a government test facility for an intensive operational flight test campaign. These upcoming evaluations will simulate complex multi-role missions, including persistent surveillance, search and rescue, light attack, and autonomous resupply in highly contested environments. Positive results will clear the path for scaling the Nomad platform across larger Group 3 and Group 4 military drone categories.
The successful flight testing of the Nomad 100 establishes a versatile benchmark for autonomous military aviation and crewed-uncrewed teaming. By uniting vertical lift flexibility with fixed-wing speed and endurance, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky offer military operators a scalable, lower-cost tactical asset. As global defense forces prioritize runway-independent logistics and reconnaissance, the Nomad platform provides a critical operational advantage for multi-domain warfare.
