Create a free starter account, or log in.

Get access to four free articles per month, as well as our Decisive Edge Newsletters and Daily News Bulletin.

Email Address

Password

Forgot your password? Reset by clicking here

Create a Password

[[ req.met ? '✓' : '•' ]] [[ req.text ]]

Re-enter Password

Passwords do not match

First Name

Last Name

Country

Confirm your account

Please enter the four-digit pin below that has been emailed to you.

Didn't receive the pin yet?

This pin expires in 20 minutes.

[[ error ]]

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Stay informed with Shephard's award-winning journalism. Unlock unlimited access and in-depth analysis with a corporate or individual subscription.

Explore your options here

Sikorsky unveils new Nomad VTOL drone family

7th October 2025 - 14:02 GMT | by Lucy Powell in London, UK

RSS

The variants can be scaled in size and used across sea and land-based missions. (Image: Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin)

The tailsitting vertical take-off and landing drones are designed to be scalable with Group 3 to Group 4 variants, with each one focused on meeting US Army reconnaissance requirements.

Sikorsky has unveiled a first look at its rotor-blown wing family of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft ahead of AUSA 2025.

Named the ‘Nomad’ family, the proprotor can be scaled in size from a small Group 3 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) to the “footprint equivalent of a Black Hawk helicopter”, according to Sikorsky vice-president and general manager Rich Benton.

The Nomad family Group 3 UAS weighs between 56lbs and 1,320lbs, while Group 4/5 weighs 1,320lbs and above. The UAS is powered by a hybrid-electric engine with the larger variants propelled by a conventional engine.

Targeting US Army reconnaissance requirements, the

Already have an account? Log in

Want to keep reading this article?

Author

Lucy Powell

Lucy Powell is Shephard’s Air Reporter. She has spent the last two years reporting …

Read full bio

More from AUSA 2025

AUSA 2025: Israel’s Asio Technologies to supply hundreds of improved Taurus tactical systems

Taurus operates alongside the Israel Defense Forces’ Orion system which supports mission management across tens of thousands of manoeuvring forces, from squad leaders to battalion commanders.
AUSA 2025: Kopin pushes micro-LED plans as China moves faster

The plan for the new displays follows fresh investment in Kopin’s European facilities by Theon and an order for head-up displays in fielded aircraft, with funding from the US Department of Defense.
AUSA 2025: Hanwha Aerospace reveals new wheeled artillery system

The aerospace company showed a model of its new mobile howitzer at AUSA in Washington, where a representative told Shephard more about its design.
AUSA 2025: US Army and Bell squeeze MV-75 programme

The MV-75, previously V-280, was originally designed as an assault aircraft which would replace some of the Black Hawk helicopters and add speed as a tilt-rotor platform. It is now envisioned to add a greater multirole capability reminiscent of the Black Hawk fleet.
AUSA 2025: BAE Systems delivers more than 500 AMPVs to the US Army

The US Army requires 2,907 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles to replace its M113 family, and there are multiple versions in production.
AUSA 2025: AM General Hawkeye awaits first production contract

AM General presented its new Hawkeye at AUSA 2025 in Washington, with prototypes of the howitzer system having been trialled in Ukraine last year.