Description
The DARPA Lift Challenge is a competition that aims to significantly advance the capabilities of vertical lift unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by achieving substantial improvements in payload-to-weight ratio. The challenge will award multiple prizes based on objective measures centered on overall payload weight, as well as subjective categories to recognize revolutionary designs. The challenge is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and U.S. entities, and will be held in the summer of 2026 at a location to be announced on the challenge website.
• The challenge is seeking novel UAS designs capable of achieving a 4:1 payload-to-weight ratio.
• The challenge will award multiple prizes based on objective measures centered on overall payload weight, as well as subjective categories to recognize revolutionary designs.
• The challenge is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and U.S. entities.
• The challenge will be held in the summer of 2026 at a location to be announced on the challenge website.