Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft
ULTRA in 2023 | |
Role | Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle |
Status | Under development |
Primary user | United States Air Force |
The Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft or ULTRA is a developmental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation (CRI) and DZYNE Technologies Incorporated.
Design and development[edit]
ULTRA was planned to achieve long endurance and acquisition cost objectives by repurposing a previously manned commercial sport glider and converting it to a military hardened unmanned air vehicle. Commercial-off-the-shelf UAV technology, existing manufacturing and supply channels, and limited custom avionics are utilized to ensure acquisition and sustainment costs remain low. Integration of lower cost electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), radio frequency (RF) sensors is made possible due to lower operating altitudes which don't require large optics, or high-power RF to maintain effectiveness. Ultra has an endurance capability that exceeds 80 hours while carrying over 400 lb. of payload.[1]
ULTRA is designed to be an Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) truck capable of carrying a variety of EO/IR, RF, other low-cost intelligence collection payloads, and sensors to provide the user with a reconfigurable missionized platform. Exceptionally long endurance allows these ISR sensors to provide coverage of areas of interest with fewer aircraft.[1]
ULTRA relies on an operator friendly command and control system that allows for “Point and Click” operations. Full global operations are possible through satellite-based command and control links that also provide the high-rate ISR data feed to the operators in real time.[1]
In May 2024 The War Zone reported that ULTRA was being operated from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.[2]
See also[edit]
Related lists
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA)". Air Force Research Laboratory. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Joseph Trevithick; Thomans Newdick (8 May 2024). "Air Force's ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East". The War Zone. Retrieved 16 May 2024.