In the planned configuration, two aircraft would be mission-ready in less than 15 minutes, according to Sikorsky. The other two would be available within four to six hours.
The kit is designed for launches from naval vessels, tactical vehicle staging areas and improvised landing zones without a runway. Its integrated support equipment is intended to reduce the need for external resources and personnel.
“Military leaders are challenging industry to expand the inventory of uncrewed aircraft, and Sikorsky is delivering proven autonomous air capability with speed and scale, offering field-ready solutions to deploy and sustain those systems where they are needed most,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager. “By packaging aircraft, mission command, communications, power and sustainment into a single containerized system, we are making it easier to move, employ and reposition VTOL UAS capability with urgency and flexibility.”
After a mission, the kit can be repacked, loaded onto a compatible transport vehicle and moved to another operating site. Sikorsky said it is designed for operations requiring rapid relocation and limited forward support.
Depending on customer configuration, Nomad 100 fast pack can support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting, light attack, and contested logistics. The communications, power and sustainment equipment are intended to keep aircraft available with less external support.
Nomad 100 belongs to Sikorsky’s family of runway-independent uncrewed aircraft for land and maritime operations. The design combines helicopter-like vertical lift and hovering with the speed, range and endurance advantages of a fixed-wing aircraft.
The aircraft uses Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy technology. Lockheed Martin said it is developing operator-commanded systems that can plan, execute and adapt complex operations in changing environments.
