U.S. DARPA Tests Sikorsky Nomad 100 Runway-Independent Drone for Long-Endurance Missions

Sikorsky has completed the first ground and flight tests of its Nomad 100 uncrewed aircraft, the company announced on July 22, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow. The hybrid design could give forces a runway-independent platform capable of carrying sensors, communications gear, cargo, or weapons farther than similarly sized battery-powered multicopters. The next test phase will move the aircraft to a U.S. government facility for more demanding multirole missions. Those trials will determine whether Nomad 100 can deliver the endurance, payload, transition reliability, and all-weather performance needed for operational use.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2026/u-s-darpa-tests-sikorsky-nomad-100-runway-independent-drone-for-long-endurance-missions

Sikorsky’s Nomad 100 completes initial flight testing under DARPA’s EVADE program, advancing evaluation of a runway-independent Group 3 drone designed for reconnaissance, communications relay, logistics and potential precision-strike missions (Picture source: Lockheed Martin).