FAQs

Q: How may I obtain the necessary FAA authorizations (including a Remote Pilot Certificate) while residing outside the United States? 
A: A non-U.S. citizen can apply for and obtain an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate in the United States. The FAA does not explicitly require U.S. citizenship for Part 107 certification. The key requirements are: 

• Age: Be at least 16 years old.
• English proficiency: Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.
• Passing the knowledge test: Pass the FAA's Part 107 knowledge test.
• Background check: Successfully complete a TSA background check. 

Specific Considerations for Non-U.S. Citizens: 

• TSA background check: While the regulations don't explicitly state that non-citizens are excluded, they must still pass a TSA security background check. The TSA assesses whether an individual poses a threat to aviation safety. The process for non-citizens can be more complex and may require providing additional documentation to prove identity and legal presence in the U.S. (if applicable).
• Legal presence in the U.S.: While not explicitly stated as a requirement to obtain the certificate, a non-US citizen may be requested to provide documentations for legal presence in the US.
• Compliance With all regulations: All operators, regardless of citizenship, must adhere to all Part 107 regulations. 

Q: When can I apply for the DARPA Lift Challenge?  
A: Team applications will tentatively open on Jan. 5, 2026.  

Q: Are there rules about tools used to start the aircraft (e.g. dropping the starter and using a drill) and is there any limit to starting tools? 
A: There is no rule about, nor any limits, to the starting or payload detachment tools a team may use. 

Q: Are we allowed to bring multiple configurations of aerodynamic components for the same aircraft so it can be tailored for the prevailing conditions on the contest day?  
A: Yes. 

Q: Can you clarify the eligibility requirements for a team? Can a government employee compete?
A: Please refer to Section 1.0 of the Draft Rules to review the updated eligibility requirements.

Q: Will DARPA have claim to our intellectual property when we win? 
A: No, DARPA claims no Intellectual Property (IP) rights for any design taking part in the challenge.

Q: Do we have to expose our aircraft to other competitors?
A: Yes, this is a public event where your aircraft will be visible. Internal architecture and proprietary designs are at your discretion.

Q: How can an inventor with no resources get involved in the Challenge? Will DARPA fund any teams?
A: DARPA will not reimburse any costs, including those incurred in the design and development of the UAS. However, we plan on establishing a web portal to help competitors connect with businesses interested in contributing resources to support their design and development.

Q: Where will the portal for contributors be? 
A: Read the contributor portal 

Q: How will prize money be distributed among competitors? 
A: As part of the application process, individual participants and teams must provide a Social Security number or Tax Identification Number. This information is necessary to receive the prize money. DARPA is not responsible for disbursement of prizes to individual team members other than the team representative/organization that was provided during the application process. Please refer to the draft rules for additional information.

Q: I am not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident; can I still compete?
A: The eligibility requirements are outlined in Section 1.0 of the Draft Rules. Application is open to individuals who are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents (Green Card holders), representing only U.S. entities (e.g., companies, academic institutions), and government employees (civilian and military). Non-U.S. individuals and organizations may participate but must have a U.S. sponsor as the applicant and team representative and cannot be citizens of countries on the Department of State’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations restricted list. 

If you do not meet these requirements, you are encouraged to explore other opportunities within DARPA and are encouraged to visit the DARPAConnect portal. The portal is designed to help the research and development community understand how to collaborate with DARPA, fostering growth and partnerships with small businesses and education institutions new to the national security space. The portal includes resources designed to assist global participants interested in working with DARPA.

Q: Where will the course be located? How many days will the Challenge competition event last? 
A: We will announce the location in early 2026. The competition is tentatively scheduled for a full week, but the schedule will be finalized after the team application window closes in May.

Q: Will there be limits on AI use during the challenge? 
A: No, there are no limits, but please note neither AI nor autonomy are a focus of this particular challenge. You are welcome to utilize both as desired.

Q: Will there be food at the event?
A: Yes.

Q: Will competitors have to transport their equipment to the location of the competition? 
A: Yes, so we recommend planning ahead on how you're going to easily transport your aircraft and corresponding equipment to the locations. We will share more about the course location in early 2026.

Q: Will there be internet access on-site during the competition? 
A: Yes, there will be internet on site for competitors, as well as cellular. Furthermore, we are looking at ways to expand cellular service given the influx of users at the site during the event.

Q: Are there any size constraints for the size of the vehicle? 
A: Yes, your UAS must fit within the standard course dimensions, which will be announced soon. Please note that we have updated the course take off/ landing zone parameters to be two identical 5-foot radius circles, one for takeoff/landing and one for payload drop. To execute a successful, take off/ landing, the center body of the UAS must be within the designated zone.

Based on feedback, we are expanding to a 100-foot-wide lane.

Q: I didn't see any National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requirements, are they applicable here? 
A: The team’s aircraft is not held to NDAA requirements. We are aware of the FCC public notice published on Dec. 22, 2025, and are investigating how this might impact team designs for this challenge.

Q: Are designs utilizing a short runway acceptable?
A: The UAS must execute vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). Short take-off and landing (STOL) designs will be ineligible.

Q: Is there a set number of awards, or will prizes be based on performance metrics or completion of the course? Additionally, if no team completes the course, will no prizes be issued?
A: Please refer to the Draft Rules and prize award categories for details.

Q: Can you provide feedback on my design? 
A: To ensure the Lift Challenge is conducted in a fair and equitable manner, DARPA will not provide feedback on competitors’ designs prior to team selection to compete. Please sign up for our email newsletter for additional opportunities to learn more about the Lift Challenge in the coming weeks.

Q: Are we allowed to eject mass off the vehicle?
Yes, we are going to allow you to release nonstructural energy sources that have been expended, but they must have a slow decent and have high-resolution marking for easy retrieval.

Q: Can you jettison your aircraft in sections, or use parachutes? 
A: Yes, you can use parachutes to assist with the aircraft landing in a safe and controlled manner, but the parachute must also complete the final loop, given that it is considered part of the aircraft weight (i.e. parachute can be used but not jettisoned).

Q: Does the aircraft have to be powered by thrust only? Can it have air foils and switch to a fixed wing design mid-flight? 
A: We are not limiting aircraft design propulsion options and hope to see innovative designs that could include aircraft transformations. Keep in mind the course will be oval-shaped and geo-fenced. You must have controllability and the power to safely fly and land your aircraft. Therefore, transitioning or transforming your aircraft between vertical and horizontal flight is an option, but all parts must be located on the aircraft throughout the entire flight attempt.

Q: Can we have more than one drone entry so that we can try a heavier weight and still compete at the minimum 110 lb. payload if it doesn't complete the flight attempt? 
A: A team can have two aircraft of the same design, complete your first flight attempt with 110 pounds. of payload to receive a qualifying score. Then, for another attempt, utilize your second aircraft to attempt a heavier payload-to-weight ratio number. Replicas and extra parts are permitted between flight attempts, as long as they do not change the fundamental design of your aircraft.

If you have two different aircraft designs, with one design intended to only get on the scoreboard with 110 pounds of payload and another design to try and max out the payload to weight ratio, you must register as two different teams. The team makeup can be the same, but each team is defined by a unique design.

Q: Are we allowed to use a multi-aircraft system? 
A: Yes, a multi-aircraft system is allowed, but the total combined weight of all aircraft must be below 55 pounds. Furthermore, for the unloaded loop, all parts of the multi-aircraft system must complete the unloaded loop in coordination (i.e., you couldn’t detach a small aircraft and fly the last mile unloaded).

Q: If the payload does not touch the ground due to landing gear and falls a short distance after landing, is that an infraction? 
A: No, as long as it’s done in a safe and controlled manner and resides within the 5-foot radius payload circle.

Q: Per draft rules, can you elaborate on what is meant by co-locating the payload at a single point on the UAS? 
A: Considering the military use case example explained in the webinar, the intention is to not have the weight plates spread out in various locations. Competitors should have their payload all in the same place. Though the UAS does not need a single attachment point.

Q: Should I design my drone to lift a maximum amount of 220 pounds? 
A: No – the competition is designed to incentivize increasing the payload-to-weight ratio. The 110 pounds payload is the minimum weight to receive a qualifying score. There is no maximum payload weight. The goal is to achieve the highest ratio, including a lighter aircraft or carrying a higher-weight payload.

Q: Do you allow releasing payload plates individually or must they be released together?
A: As long as you can release the plates safely, you can release them either way.

Q: Can we have the payload up on a stand for the aircraft to grab after takeoff or a human assisted connection of the craft to the payload? 
A: You cannot use a stand to assist with payload attachment after takeoff and human assisted connection is allowed as long as it is done in a safe manner. We are investigating plywood or similar material for the weight plates to rest on rather than the ground.

Q: Will DARPA supply the weights for the competition or do we bring our own? 
A: DARPA will supply all of the weights.

Q: Define the reasonable time to take-off and descend?
A: The unmanned aerial system (UAS) must maintain a consistent altitude of 250 feet (+/- 50 feet) above ground level (AGL) throughout the 5-nautical mile (nmi)-designated flight path, after the defined ascent period. Ascent and descent to/from 250-foot AGL must be achieved within 0.5 nmi from the designated takeoff/landing zone with the payload and within 0.2 nmi without payload. Altitude data will be monitored, and failure to meet these requirements may result in an infraction or disqualification. Descent can only begin after verbally alerting the lane coordinator.

Q: Can I have an observer at the end?
A: No, you cannot. You will have a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) at the starting end of the lane, as well as an optional RPIC Assistant, but no other team members will be allowed on the course due to safety concerns.

Q: Define the maximum distance from the aircraft to the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC)? 
A: Course details and dimensions will be released soon, but the RPIC and any assisting team member must remain at the end of the flight lane throughout the flight attempt.

Q: Will time be paused if manual removal of the payload is selected?
A: The clock starts with payload lift-off and ends with the aircraft safely landing in the designated zone and the power being cut. The clock will not be paused at any point during a flight attempt. Please note that 1 full nautical mile (nmi) must be completed following the payload drop.

Q: Does every part of the aircraft have to land inside the 5-foot radius landing zone or can parts of the system touch the ground outside of it? 
A: The center body of the aircraft must be within the 5-foot radius landing zone, but other parts of the system can be touching the ground.

Q: Can a ground crew be located with the aircraft to start motors prior to launch?
A: Yes, when you move from the prep area to the actual launch area during your 90-minute window, you and your team can prepare it and start the aircraft there. Then you'll move back a safe distance, start executing your flight window, and take off.

Q: Is charging or refueling allowed when the aircraft lands after the first four nautical mile loop?
A: No, you're not allowed to add any more energy sources to complete the last nautical mile.

Q: Why is it 4 miles and 1 mile? 
A: This was decided because of time – looking at viable speeds around this course and to accommodate as many competitors as possible in a roughly one-week period.

Q: Is the course going to be over flat ground or will there be obstacles?
A: The course will be over flat ground.

Q: When you say four times the initial weight, are you referring to the max takeoff weight or the max operating weight?
A: The target weight ratio of four times the initial weight refers specifically to the aircraft's maximum operating weight, and not its maximum takeoff weight. This design aims for a payload that is four times the weight of the aircraft. Although the FAA uses "maximum operating weight" which is relevant to regulations such as the 55-pound limit, it's crucial to understand that the maximum takeoff weight is contingent upon the takeoff configuration, including whether the payload is present at takeoff or is deployed via sling loading or other methods. Ultimately, the driving design factor is achieving a payload capacity four times the aircraft's weight.

Q: Regarding weather issues, what should we prepare for? 
A: We are looking for aircraft that are somewhat robust. Therefore, when designing your aircraft, consider a takeoff in 10-, 15-, and 20-knot winds. If your design just doesn't work because of the wind conditions during your window and you're going to aim for the next window, you can forfeit that run.

Q: What is DARPA's scoring criteria specifically for the subjective categories? 
A: DARPA will leverage three of our aviation program managers to look for the best of breed in those categories. Winners of the objective categories can also win in the subjective categories as well. They are not exclusive.

Q: Will DARPA provide the two trackers? 
A: You are required to obtain the flight ID tracker that is required by the FAA under Part 107 and under the 44807. The other tracker will be furnished by DARPA. It will most likely be shaped like a weight plate and will also be a determined standard weight, such as 2.5 pounds or 5 pounds. That tracker will be part of the payload weight.

Q: Is there a speed limit for horizontal flight under the FAA’s Part 107? Does this limitation apply to this competition? 
A: The Part 107 speed is limited to 100 mph. But this limitation does not apply to the competition because you will be operating under the FAA’s 44807 when the payload is added. The 44807 waiver will allow us to go above that 100 mph speed limit but will most likely not be attainable given the course layout.