WASHINGTON — Oshkosh Defense and Silicon Valley-based Grid Aero have announced a strategic partnership to scale production of the Lifter autonomous logistics drone. Announced on 2 November 2026, the agreement combines Grid Aero’s aircraft technology with Oshkosh’s manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin.
The partnership aims to produce a cost-effective unmanned aircraft for military and commercial logistics, addressing U.S. Department of Defense demand for scalable systems.
Lifter Drone: Payload and Range
The Lifter is a piston-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for mid-range logistics. It can carry payloads of 450 to 3,600 kg (990 to 7,940 pounds) over distances of up to 3,200 km (approximately 2,000 miles).
Grid Aero CEO Arthur Dubois said the aircraft was developed to reduce the cost of long-range air logistics. Its design uses a simple piston-engine layout, common materials and engineering approaches drawn from military trucks.
The modular airframe is designed primarily for cargo transport but can also be adapted for reconnaissance, aerial refueling or as an airborne mothership to launch and coordinate smaller drones.
Oshkosh to Support Mass Production
Under the agreement, Oshkosh Defense will provide manufacturing facilities, production planning expertise and supply chain support in Wisconsin.
Oshkosh Chief Growth Officer Logan Jones said the partnership combines Silicon Valley’s technology development with the Midwest’s heavy manufacturing capabilities.
Initial work is underway on production engineering, design improvements for mass manufacturing and engagement with potential defense customers. Grid Aero will continue development and initial low-rate production, while Oshkosh prepares a pilot production line.
Production Timeline and Future Plans
A pilot production line could begin operations in roughly a year, following additional prototype testing estimated at six to 12 months. Production is expected to shift to Oshkosh in stages as demand grows.
The companies have discussed long-term plans to produce hundreds to thousands of aircraft by the early 2030s, subject to testing progress, supplier capacity and customer orders.
The project aims to deliver a production-ready aircraft meeting Pentagon requirements for Group 4 and Group 5 unmanned systems capable of operating in contested environments.
Grid Aero, founded around 2024, has received seed and Series A funding, along with support related to U.S. Air Force innovation programmes. The partnership marks Oshkosh’s entry into the production of larger unmanned aircraft.
Neither company has disclosed the financial terms, specific production targets or potential contract values.
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