Lockheed’s New VTOL Drone Blurs the Line Between Helicopter and Plane

Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky has introduced a new family of next-gen vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones that merges traits of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft.

Called the Nomad, the drones integrate the company’s MATRIX autonomy tech, an open system co-developed with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for use across both rotary and fixed-wing platforms.

With a twin-proprotor setup, they combine the versatility of a helicopter with the speed and range of a plane, allowing for vertical takeoff and landing, hovering, and efficient cruising on long missions.

Read the full story on NextGen Defense: Lockheed’s New VTOL Drone Blurs the Line Between Helicopter and Plane