Heavy lift drone competition to revolutionize vertical lift aviation, offer $6.5M in prizes
Nov 13, 2025
As military missions become more complicated, warfighters need more capable drones to use across diverse scenarios. The same also applies to civilian applications, like infrastructure inspection, package delivery, and disaster response.
Current multirotor drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), provide simplicity, affordability, and ease of operation; however, their primary limitation is their low payload-to-weight ratio, which typically falls at 1:1 or less.
The DARPA Lift Challenge aims to shatter the heavy lift bottleneck, seeking novel drone designs that can carry payloads more than four times their weight, which would revolutionize the way we use drones across all sectors. By offering $6.5 million in prize money, the Challenge seeks to incentivize university researchers, independent innovators and industry to set a new standard in vertical lift performance.
DARPA experts theorize the 4:1 payload-to-weight ratio is plausible based on recent advances in aerodynamic design, materials science, and propulsion systems. This ratio could unlock a whole new range of possibilities for both military and civilian applications.
“DARPA recognizes the best solutions often come from unexpected places,” said Phillip Smith, DARPA Lift Challenge program manager. “We’ve deliberately created an open design Challenge format to encourage out of the box thinking.”
Details
The Lift Challenge taps into the core of American innovation: the “garage inventor” spirit. Competitors must create an aircraft that is both lightweight and powerful.
To compete, designs must weigh no more than 55 pounds, including fuel or power source, and be capable of lifting a minimum payload of 110 pounds across the set 5-nautical mile circuit course. This threshold encourages creativity and innovative thinking for designs at a scale that should allow widespread participation.
The Challenge prioritizes safety and regulatory compliance, requiring all participating individuals and teams to strictly adhere to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Teams will go head-to-head in live performance trials in Summer 2026.
“The Lift Challenge isn’t just about building better UAS; it’s about securing America’s leadership in UAS technology for decades to come,” said Smith. “We’re setting ambitious goals and giving everyone a chance to compete to create new capabilities, accelerate our defense industrial base, and give the U.S. a strategic advantage.”
Registration is tentatively scheduled to open in January 2026, and close May 2026. Find additional details on the Lift Challenge site (https://www.darpa.mil/lift), including draft rules and prize criteria. DARPA is accepting feedback on the draft rules through Nov. 26, 2025.
For those interested in being informed about the competition, visit the above link to sign up for email updates.
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Media with inquiries should contact DARPA Public Affairs.
