The US military has launched a long endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that can fly continuously for 80 hours

According to the Indian Defense Review website on October 23, the unmanned long endurance tactical reconnaissance aircraft (ULTRA) was developed in collaboration between the US Air Force Research Laboratory and DZYNE Technologies. Its 80 hour endurance enables it to perform long-term reconnaissance missions. It can carry various sensors, including optoelectronic, infrared, and radio frequency devices, and is a multifunctional equipment used for various intelligence collection operations.

According to reports, one of the most significant advantages of ULTRA compared to existing reconnaissance platforms is its cost-effectiveness. For a long time, the US military has relied on General Atomics' MQ-9 Reaper drone for reconnaissance and combat missions. However, the "Reaper" drone has a complex structure, with a price tag of approximately $23 million per unit, forcing the military to seek more economical alternatives.

ULTRA has solved these problems, with an estimated cost of only $9 million per unit, less than half of its predecessor's price. The significant reduction in expenses enables the Air Force to allocate resources more effectively and potentially deploy larger reconnaissance aircraft fleets.

ULTRA may lack the advanced weapon system of the "Reaper" drone, but its mission focus is reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, which makes it an ideal equipment for many modern military operations.

The success of this drone can be attributed to its innovative design scheme and rapid development process. Its design is based on the civilian S12 glider manufactured by the German company Stormer. The ULTRA development cycle is very short, taking only 10 months from concept to first flight.

To further reduce costs and accelerate production, ULTRA has integrated commercial technologies from the civilian sector.

The deployment of this drone greatly enhances the ability of the US Air Force to carry out long-range reconnaissance missions. The extension of flight mileage and duration has opened up new possibilities for conducting long-term reconnaissance and intelligence gathering activities in remote or disputed areas, providing unprecedented flexibility for military action planners to monitor potential threats and collect critical intelligence.

Although the US military has not disclosed the specific deployment and use of the drone, its potential impact on the US military's global operations is evident. The continuous development of aerial reconnaissance technology has made ULTRA a testament to the continuous innovation of military reconnaissance capabilities.