Sikorsky packages four Nomad 100 drones in deployable container

Sikorsky has packaged four Nomad 100 vertical-takeoff drones and their support equipment in a standard 20-foot shipping container, with two aircraft ready to prepare and launch in as little as 15 minutes, according to the company. The Fast Pack includes communications equipment, local power systems and maintenance gear, allowing the aircraft to operate without a runway. Lockheed Martin's MATRIX autonomy system lets operators command missions from a tablet without continuous control or monitoring. The remaining two aircraft require four to six hours for assembly and preparation. The Nomad 100 uses dual proprotors to force air over its wings during vertical flight and the transition to forward flight.