Windracers is extending the range of its dual-use heavy-lift cargo drone to 1,240 miles (2,000km) with a 441lb (200kg) payload, the company announced at an event in London yesterday.
The capability upgrade was revealed at an event in London yesterday. The existing range and payload capacity of the Ultra is 150kg up to 620 miles.
Also showcased at the event was autonomous technology developed by Windracers, including a demo of a fully autonomous flight mission at Llanbedr Airfield in North Wales.
According to Windracers’ head of engineering, Konstantinos Kontogiannis, the drone has been flight-tested with more than 100kg over 2,000km, and 200kg over the same distance will be verified and available in the coming months.
Windracers Ultra is a heavy-lift cargo drone. The aircraft is already being used in challenging environments such as Ukraine, Alaska, Central Africa and the polar regions.
Stephen Wright, founder and chairman of Windracers said, “With its combination of heavy-lift capability and the 2,000km range now in development, Windracers Ultra sits among a select group of long-endurance UAS that are redefining what is possible in both civil and defense operations.
“Windracers is truly pushing the boundaries to make dual-use heavy-lift drones a cost-effective, reliable and safe aviation system for those who need it most.”
Windracers’ CEO Simon Muderack said, “Our focus has always been on making sure every project is executed efficiently and with purpose. What we’re achieving with Windracers Ultra is not just about the technology itself, but how it fits into wider operations and strategy to deliver missions that have a positive outcome on the ground.”
Al Carns, the UK Minister for Armed Forces said, “I saw first-hand the cutting-edge British engineering that goes into a Windracers Ultra when their heavy lift drone visited Parliament last year. Our government’s historic increase in defence spending will help unlock the sector and demonstrate that Defence is an engine for Growth.”
Professor Cathy Cahill, director of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), said, “We chose Windracers Ultra because of its proven ability to operate in extreme and remote environments. Using heavy-lift drones like Ultra allows us to deliver vital goods and services to communities that are otherwise inaccessible, without putting pilots at risk.”
UAF commenced flights in Alaska with the Ultra last October.
