The US Air Force is poised to revolutionize aerial surveillance with the ULTRA (Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft) drone, a cutting-edge aircraft that has demonstrated an unprecedented ability to stay airborne for at least three days straight.
This groundbreaking achievement, confirmed by recent tests at Utah’s Dugway Proving Ground, represents a significant advance in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
Developed by Dzyne Technologies, the glider-like ULTRA boasts an impressive wingspan of over 80 feet (24 meters), enabling it to carry substantial 400-pound (180-kilogram) payloads over vast distances.
With a potential launch point in the Middle East, the drone can effectively monitor regions spanning Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Strategic Investment and Technological Innovation
The Air Force has recognized the ULTRA’s potential and has allocated approximately $35 million for four of these advanced systems in its fiscal 2025 budget.
This investment underscores the military’s confidence in the drone’s capabilities to provide critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data.
A key factor contributing to the ULTRA’s success is its reliance on commercial off-the-shelf components, according to Chris Miller, Dzyne’s chief strategy officer and former acting Secretary of Defense.
The US Air Force is poised to revolutionize aerial surveillance with the ULTRA (Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft) drone, a cutting-edge aircraft that has demonstrated an unprecedented ability to stay airborne for at least three days straight.
This groundbreaking achievement, confirmed by recent tests at Utah’s Dugway Proving Ground, represents a significant advance in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
Developed by Dzyne Technologies, the glider-like ULTRA boasts an impressive wingspan of over 80 feet (24 meters), enabling it to carry substantial 400-pound (180-kilogram) payloads over vast distances.
With a potential launch point in the Middle East, the drone can effectively monitor regions spanning Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Strategic Investment and Technological Innovation
The Air Force has recognized the ULTRA’s potential and has allocated approximately $35 million for four of these advanced systems in its fiscal 2025 budget.
This investment underscores the military’s confidence in the drone’s capabilities to provide critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data.
A key factor contributing to the ULTRA’s success is its reliance on commercial off-the-shelf components, according to Chris Miller, Dzyne’s chief strategy officer and former acting Secretary of Defense.
These off-the-shelf components significantly reduce the platform’s cost compared to similar drones, making it even more attractive to the military.
Former US Attorney General Bill Barr, a paid advisor to Dzyne, echoed this sentiment, stating that the world is entering “the age of drones.”
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), once exclusive tools of specialized forces, have become ubiquitous, sparking a dynamic arms race as nations vie for dominance in this rapidly evolving domain.
Barr noted in an interview with Axios last month that drones offer a cost-effective method for expansive surveillance and coordinated responses.
Operational Deployment and Classified Origins of ULTRA
In May 2024, the US Air Force confirmed that ULTRA was being operated from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
While we know that the ULTRA was developed by Dzyne and introduced in 2019, specific details about its conception, design iterations, and testing phases remain classified.
In Summary: The ULTRA’s exceptional performance has generated significant interest within the defense community. As the US Air Force continues to refine its capabilities, the potential implications for national security are immense.
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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
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