Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, unveiled its Nomad family of scalable vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones in early October 2025, marking a significant leap in autonomous, long-endurance drone technology. The Nomad family features a distinctive twin proprotor “rotor-blown wing” design that allows the drones to take off, hover, and land like helicopters, then transition to efficient, high-speed, fixed-wing flight for extended missions. These drones operate with Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy system and are powered primarily by hybrid-electric propulsion, with larger models employing conventional drivetrains. The Nomad series ranges from smaller Group 3 drones, like the 10.3-foot wingspan Nomad 50 that completed extended flight tests earlier this year, to larger variants akin to the size of an S-70 Black Hawk helicopter. Designed for reconnaissance, light attack, and contested logistics, these runway-independent drones support diverse naval and land operations. Sikorsky emphasized the Nomad’s strategic value in contested environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, complementing manned helicopters like the Black Hawk to maintain India’s and allied forces’ operational advantages, signaling new defense capabilities relevant to India’s evolving military landscape. The Nomad 100, the next Group 3 model with an 18-foot wingspan, is set for its maiden flight soon.