The U.S. Department of Defense, through DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), has recently launched an ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing heavy air transport. This initiative, named “Cost Efficient Cargo,” explores the design of an autonomous drone capable of carrying up to 31.75 tons of cargo, which is double the lifting capacity of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, currently in service with the U.S. Marine Corps. Unlike the King Stallion, this drone would not be designed for long-range missions but rather for moving heavy loads between ships and beaches or crossing rivers and other natural obstacles inland.
DARPA recently issued a Request for Information (RFI), seeking innovative proposals for uncrewed heavy-lift systems capable of carrying a 70,000-pound payload (around 35 tons). This RFI specifies that the drone must utilize existing engine and transmission technologies while deviating from systems currently employed by traditional helicopters. The intended operational range for this drone would be 25 miles (40.23 km), flying at an altitude of 500 feet between the cargo pickup point and its destination, with a return trip to the base.