By The SOFREP News Team
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.
This essay first appeared in SOFREP.com
