Windracers unveils 2,000 km heavy-lift range for ULTRA drone
Windracers said its ULTRA drone can fly up to 2,000 km while carrying heavy payloads for civil and defence missions.;
Windracers, a British civil and defence drone maker, has announced that its dual-use heavy-lift unmanned aerial system, called Windracers ULTRA, can be configured to fly up to 2,000 km in a single mission while carrying a 200 kg payload. The announcement was made at the Windracers LAUNCH 2026 event in central London on 15 January 2026.
The new range, roughly the distance from London to Marrakesh, was unveiled by Chief Executive Officer Simon Muderack, who also outlined the company’s vision for the system and featured testimonials from its current customers. Founder and Chairman Stephen Wright said demand for the ULTRA platform is rising, with missions across defence, humanitarian, research and civil air cargo sectors set to begin later this month.
The launch event drew members of the UK Parliament, government officials and representatives from international research and innovation organisations. It included a demonstration of autonomous aviation technology and a fully autonomous flight mission at Llanbedr Airfield in North Wales.
Windracers’ Head of Engineering Konstantinos Kontogiannis confirmed that the ULTRA is already capable of carrying more than 100 kg over 2,000 km, with the full 200 kg configuration available in the coming months. The company is also expanding manufacturing to build hundreds of ULTRA aircraft over the next two years, according to Head of Manufacturing Joe Roberts.
The ULTRA is already recognised as a leading dual-use heavy-lift drone, routinely supporting payloads of more than 150 kg over distances above 1,000 km. It is in active use in demanding environments including Ukraine, Alaska, Central Africa and polar regions.
Speakers at the event highlighted the aircraft’s potential. Al Carns, Ministry for Armed Forces, said long operational endurance is crucial for missions and welcomed the UK-built drone’s capabilities. Users from research organisations said the platform’s robustness and reliability make it suitable for operations in extreme and remote conditions.
Windracers said the enhanced range and payload capacity will help strengthen both civil and defence operations while supporting the UK’s strategic and technological leadership in unmanned aviation.