Oshkosh Defense and Grid Aero Target Mass Lifter Drone Output for Military

Oshkosh Defense has partnered with autonomous-aircraft company Grid Aero to prepare Grid’s Lifter drone for large-scale production, addressing the U.S. military’s demand for affordable Group 4 and 5 unmanned aircraft that can be bought in quantity. Oshkosh will contribute manufacturing expertise and Wisconsin facilities, helping with design for manufacturability, production planning and supply-chain optimization. Grid describes the Lifter as a rugged, piston-powered, modular aircraft intended for long-range missions, including cargo delivery and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The companies aim to make the aircraft adaptable to different payloads and missions, with Grid’s CEO saying the long-term goal is to produce hundreds or thousands by the early 2030s.