Four ready-to-fly autonomous Nomad 100 aircraft in a single 20-foot container enabling rapid deployment and sustainment. Rendering courtesy of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.
20-foot ISO container package brings together four Nomad 100 aircraft, mission command, communications, power and sustainment equipment to support expeditionary ISR-T, strike and multirole operations with minimal infrastructure
WASHINGTON Oct. 12, 2026 — Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), today introduced the Nomad 100 fast pack, a containerized vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aerial system (UAS) kit designed to help customers rapidly deploy autonomous air capability from austere and infrastructure-limited locations.
The U.S. Armed Forces require rapid expansion of autonomous platforms: compact, low-footprint solutions that can be deployed, sustained and repositioned quickly in contested environments. The fast pack delivers that capability in a single 20‑foot ISO container that houses four Nomad 100 aircraft, mission‑command software, power, communications and sustainment equipment, all designed for maximum mobility, rapid set‑up and minimal personnel requirements.
“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, vice president and general manager, Sikorsky. “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.”
Instant Offense:
- In its planned configuration, two Nomad 100 aircraft can be mission ready in less than 15 minutes, with two additional aircraft available within four to six hours.
- The containerized system is designed for runway independent launch from locations such as naval vessels, tactical vehicle staging areas and improvised landing zones.
- Integrated communications, power, and sustainment equipment are designed to extend mission availability with reduced external support.
- The kit is also designed for rapid movement between operating locations. Once a mission is complete, the container can be repacked, loaded onto a compatible transport vehicle and moved to a new site to support follow-on operations.
The Nomad 100 fast pack is designed to help customers close critical operational gaps where runway-independent launch, limited forward support and rapid relocation are mission priorities. Depending on customer configuration, Nomad 100 fast pack can enable missions including ISR-T, light attack, and contested logistics, giving operators multirole capabilities in challenging and dynamic environments.
Nomad 100 is part of Sikorsky’s Nomad family of systems, a runway-independent VTOL UAS family designed for austere operations across land and sea. Enabled by MATRIX™ autonomy, Nomad combines the vertical lift and hover characteristics of a helicopter with the speed, range and endurance advantages of a fixed-wing aircraft. Lockheed Martin continues to push the forefront of autonomy with a mission‑centric evolution that moves beyond simple “self‑fly” or “self‑drive” concepts to operator commanded systems that can plan, execute and adapt complex operations in a dynamic environment.
For more information, visit the Nomad webpage.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at lockheedmartin.com.
The Nomad 100 was developed with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of the agency’s Early VTOL Aircraft Demonstration (EVADE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
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