Oshkosh Partners with Grid Aero to Scale Production of Lifter Drone

WASHINGTON — Oshkosh Defense has partnered with autonomous aircraft developer Grid Aero to increase production of the Lifter drone, the companies announced on Monday.

The collaboration aligns with the Pentagon’s effort to acquire affordable Group 4 and Group 5 unmanned autonomous systems — such as Grid Aero’s Lifter, whose design was released in August — in large quantities.

“This partnership exemplifies a new model for defense innovation, merging Silicon Valley’s cutting‑edge technology development with the Midwest’s unmatched manufacturing capability,” said Logan Jones, chief growth officer of Oshkosh Defense, in a statement.

Specifically, the companies will collaborate on design for manufacturability, production planning, supply‑chain optimization, and large‑scale manufacturing of the Lifter aircraft, per an Oshkosh news release.

Arthur Dubois, CEO of Grid Aero, explained that the Lifter is capable of carrying a few thousand pounds over several thousand miles and can support diverse missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and cargo transport.

“Our goal is to make the payload integration systems as modular as possible — supporting cargo, ISR, or other applications,” Dubois told Breaking Defense. “We’re not limiting the design to a single mission; like a modular pickup truck, it can accommodate any payload mounted on top.”

Dubois said the ultimate aim is to manufacture hundreds, potentially thousands, of Lifter aircraft by the early 2030s.

He estimated that testing of the various Lifter prototypes will continue for six to twelve months, and that within a year the two firms expect to launch a pilot production line at Oshkosh.

Grid Aero will discuss design modifications with Oshkosh to create the next iteration of the platform, Dubois said, adding that the aircraft will retain its fundamental shape, though some component changes may occur.

“The collaboration begins with a redesign of the airframe and close work with Oshkosh’s team on supply‑chain considerations, selecting purchasable parts for large volumes, identifying manufacturable methods, and integrating Oshkosh’s workforce capabilities into the design,” Dubois said.

Oshkosh Defense is recognized for manufacturing military vehicles, including the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, while Grid Aero emerged from stealth in August 2025 and is headquartered in California.

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