UK's Windracers to upgrade Ultra UAS payload, range

Windracers' Ultra UAS being operated by a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at an undisclosed location in Ukraine in 2025. (Windracers)

UK unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) manufacturer Windracers is increasing the payload capacity of its Ultra heavy lift UAS from 150 kg to 200 kg, and the platform's range from 1,000 km to 2,000 km, Windracers CEO Simon Muderack told Janes in an interview on 28 October.

The upgrade is set to take place in the coming months, according to Muderack. The current Ultra UAS is equipped with twin combustion engines, with each engine rated at approximately 50 hp. “To fly that type of distance and to carry that type of payload, you're not going to be looking at an electric power source, at least not yet,” Muderack said. “We use off-the-shelf industrial engines; these are truly off-the-shelf engines that can be bolted on and off and replaced pretty quickly so the platforms can go back out there and fly.”

The UAS is designed to take off and land in a rugged environment. In 2024 the Ultra UAS was operated in the Antarctic.

“The philosophy was to build ‘the Jeep of the skies', or a ‘Toyota Hilux-type platform', very rugged, very robust, deliberately made from aluminium,” Muderack said. He stated the platform is 90% aluminium. “I've seen the platform crashed into a snowbank and bumped into the side of a hangar, and I've seen someone take a hammer and actually knock out some bumps in the platform and it still took off and flew successfully.”

Ultra components