A landing system for a heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicle includes an elongated main body that is constructed from a rigid material. The main body includes a central aperture and plurality of connectors for engaging complementary connectors located on the bottom of an unmanned aerial vehicle. A pair of landing units that are positioned along two sides of the main body via connection assemblies which transition the landing units between an extended and retracted orientation. A pair of electromechanical actuators are positioned along the main body at locations adjacent to the landing units. The actuators can include linear motors that are offset from the landing unit connection assemblies. The actuators are coupled to the control and power units of an attached unmanned aerial vehicle.