DARPAConnect

DARPA Lift Challenge: Redefining What Drones Can Do

DARPA Lift Challenge: Redefining What Drones Can Do DARPA is calling on innovators to help revolutionize vertical lift. The DARPA Lift Challenge offers $6.5 million in prizes to teams that can design drones capable of carrying payloads more than four times their own weight -- a breakthrough that could transform how drones are used for both military and civilian missions. From battlefield logistics to disaster response, this Challenge taps into the American spirit of innovation -- encouraging students, independent inventors, and industry to push the limits of aerodynamic design, propulsion, and materials science. Live performance trials are planned for Summer 2026 , with registration opening January 5, 2026 . Learn More

Inside DARPA Challenges: Innovation Through Competition (December 2, 2025)

DARPA Challenges have shaped some of the most transformational breakthroughs in national security, from autonomous vehicles to next generation sensing. Join this month’s DARPAConnect webinar for a deep dive into what Challenges are, why they matter, and how they accelerate bold ideas into real world impact. We’ll explore the evolution of DARPA Challenges, highlight success stories from past competitors, and share upcoming opportunities for innovators to get involved. From sensing and decision making in the CIDAR Challenge to rapid medical response solutions driven by the DARPA Triage Challenge, we’ll walk through a range of current and past efforts that demonstrate how Challenges open new pathways for innovation. This session will also spotlight DARPA’s newly announced Lift Challenge, which aims to revolutionize heavy vertical lift aviation. With a performance goal of achieving a four to one payload to weight ratio and $6.5 M in prize incentives, the Lift Challenge is calling on university researchers, independent innovators, small businesses and industry to rethink what is possible in unmanned aircraft design. We’ll walk through the Challenge’s core objectives, eligibility criteria, notional timeline, and how the competition can lead to new capabilities, accelerate the defense industrial base, and give the U.S. a strategic advantage. Whether you’re new to DARPA or looking for your next big problem to solve, this session will help you understand where your expertise can make a difference and how to engage early with emerging challenge opportunities.This session is designed for: -Researchers and technologists interested in applying their expertise to real-world problem sets defined by DARPA. -Small businesses and startups looking for high-visibility opportunities to showcase novel capabilities. -Academics and students seeking hands-on ways to engage with DARPA’s mission and contribute to cutting-edge research. -Innovation leaders and ecosystem partners who want to understand how Challenges can jump start entirely new industries. Join Us: • Date: December 2, 2025 • Time: 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern • Location: DARPAConnect Corner Live Webinar Register now to secure your spot.