British drone producer Windracers has introduced that its ULTRA heavy-lift drone can now fly as much as 2,000km in a single flight whereas carrying a 200kg payload—a functionality that positions the plane among the many world’s most superior long-endurance unmanned aerial programs.
The announcement got here at Windracers LAUNCH 2026 in London, the place CEO Simon Muderack revealed the expanded vary functionality. “Windracers focus has at all times been on ensuring each venture is executed effectively and with function,” Muderack said. “What we’re reaching with Windracers ULTRA is not only in regards to the expertise itself, however the way it matches into wider operations and technique to ship missions which have a constructive consequence on the bottom.”
Lengthy-Endurance Heavy-Carry Drone Efficiency
The Windracers ULTRA represents a big development in dual-use drone capabilities. Head of Engineering Konstantinos Kontogiannis confirmed the UAS can at present carry greater than 100kg over 2,000km, with the total 200kg payload functionality anticipated inside months. The two,000km vary—equal to the space from London to Marrakesh—opens new prospects for extended-range industrial and civil operations.
The plane is already operational in demanding environments together with Ukraine, Alaska, Central Africa, and polar areas. Its established observe document demonstrates payload capability exceeding 150kg over distances surpassing 1,000km, making it what the corporate describes as “the world’s most achieved dual-use heavy-lift drone.”
Scaling Manufacturing and Actual-World Purposes
Manufacturing capability is increasing quickly to assist rising demand. Head of Manufacturing Joe Roberts detailed plans to construct tons of of ULTRA plane over the following two years as defence, humanitarian, analysis, and civil air cargo missions begin.
College of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Cathy Cahill, Director of Alaska Middle for Unmanned Plane Techniques Integration, highlighted the sensible worth of the heavy-lift drone: “Utilizing heavy-lift drones like ULTRA permits us to ship very important items and companies to communities which can be in any other case inaccessible, with out placing pilots in danger. Its robustness, versatility, and reliability give us confidence it’ll meet the calls for of our operations in difficult circumstances.”
Ian McNabb is a journalist specializing in drone expertise and life-style content material at Dronelife. He’s based mostly between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys mountaineering and Boston space sports activities.
