Transport
Published: January 21, 2025 | Updated: 22nd January 2025
Windracers has launched the next generation of its self-flying cargo drone, the ULTRA MK2.
The Southampton business unveiled the new craft – which carries heavier loads and consumes less fuel than its predecessor – at the ME London hotel last week.
Windracers ULTRA was originally conceived to bring down the cost of delivering humanitarian aid to remote communities.
It now operates in Ukraine, the UK and the US, helping organisations transport payloads to hard-to-reach places quickly, safely and cost effectively.
The drone can take off, fly and land safely without the need for a remote pilot and with minimal ground operator oversight – either during the day, at night or in fog.
“The launch of ULTRA MK2 is proof that Windracers has moved rapidly from an idea to a commercial organisation that is meeting the needs of customers today,” said founder and group executive chair Stephen Wright.
“I’m so proud of the Windracers team who have performed phenomenally to bring ULTRA MK2 to market in a very short time period and for ULTRA development over the last eight years.
“I know the team shares my excitement as we see the operational impact of ULTRA MK2 for our customers to help people around the world.”
Simon Thompson, group CEO of Windracers, added: “From eliminating the need for a pilot to developing a multi-mission platform that is dependable and easy to use and maintain, our ultimate goal is to bring down the cost for the end user.
“In ULTRA MK2, we’ve halved our operational fuel cost per kilogram, and we’ll find even more efficiency in the future for our customers.”
Attending the launch were two Windracers clients – Norwegian research institute NORCE and humanitarian aid organisation Aviation Sans Frontieres.
NORCE will be using the new model to carry radar systems for detecting changes to the Antarctic Climate, while the latter is working to establish a humanitarian service that can work in rapidly changing conditions.
Windracers is hoping through the launch to cement its position as the low-cost cargo drone of choice for middle-mile logistics.
It’s already conducted thousands of kilometres of flights in some of the world’s most hostile environments, from the Orkney Islands to the South Pole, and has helped resupply armed forces in Ukraine since 2023.
