US Pentagon pursues industry input to address drones’ payload and navigation limitations
UAVs deployed in the US Marine Corps Attack Drone Competition in December 2025. (Photo: US Marine Corps)
The US Department of Defence along with its services and agencies have been increasing efforts to enhance the uncrewed aerial vehicle capabilities to succeed in future warfare.
The US military is keen to have industry support to improve the capabilities of its drones and better prepare its uncrewed fleet to succeed on tomorrow’s battlefield. This approach involves overcoming the payload and navigation limitations of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“As military missions become more complicated, warfighters need more capable drones to use across diverse scenarios,” the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) stated.
Last week, DARPA opened its Lift Challenge, a competition to address payload issues in multirotor UAVs. According to the agency, this US$6.5 million industrial competition is intended “to discover groundbreaking designs that solve one of
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Maximise survivability with advanced electronic warfare (video)]()
Maximise survivability with advanced electronic warfare (video)
BAE Systems’ all-digital EW delivers 360-degree threat awareness in contested environments, boosts survivability, and cuts lifecycle costs.
-
![US Air Force seeks avionics upgrades for ageing T-38 Talon as T-7A Red Hawk delays persist]()
US Air Force seeks avionics upgrades for ageing T-38 Talon as T-7A Red Hawk delays persist
The USAF is looking for commercial avionics solutions to improve the T-38 Talon’s reliability, readiness and flight safety as continued T-7A Red Hawk delays increase the likelihood that the legacy trainer will remain in service longer than planned.
-
![FIA 2026: KAI to offer T-50 jet trainer to UK Royal Air Force]()
FIA 2026: KAI to offer T-50 jet trainer to UK Royal Air Force
Another contender for the Royal Air Force's future Hawk trainer replacement programme has emerged, with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) putting forward its T-50 as a proven solution that could be manufactured in the UK.
-
![FIA 2026: Honeywell Aerospace targets expansion following June spin-off]()
FIA 2026: Honeywell Aerospace targets expansion following June spin-off
Honeywell Aerospace charted its growth strategy as a standalone company, with CEO Jim Currier pointing to record defence budgets and a $19 billion backlog as drivers of expansion.
