US Air Force to Test ULTRA Turbo Drone with Multi-Day Flight in Middle East

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to send an upgraded version of its ULTRA surveillance drone to the Middle East for operational testing, introducing a faster and higher-flying model designed for extended missions.

This enhanced variant, named ULTRA Turbo, integrates a turbocharged engine while maintaining the platform's key strength of multi-day flight endurance.

Budget documents from the U.S. Air Force, cited by The War Zone, indicate that the aircraft will undergo an operational assessment within the U.S. Central Command’s jurisdiction. This evaluation is scheduled to start in fiscal year 2026 and continue into 2027, incorporating further capability enhancements.

The decision aligns with increasing demands for continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage in the Middle East, driven by operations involving Iran and maritime monitoring efforts.

Enhanced Performance with Endurance Focus

The ULTRA series, developed by DZYNE Technologies in collaboration with AFRL, serves as a cost-effective long-endurance ISR platform. Its design is based on a commercial sport glider, characterized by a long-wing configuration optimized for endurance missions.

The original ULTRA reportedly can stay aloft for over 70 hours, reach altitudes up to 25,000 feet, and carry payloads around 450 pounds. The ULTRA Turbo variant sacrifices some endurance for improved capabilities, offering more than 60 hours of flight time, speeds reaching 120 knots, and an operational ceiling of 30,000 feet.

Its propulsion is provided by a Rotax 916 turbocharged piston engine, which enhances performance above 25,000 feet and improves resilience to weather conditions and operational flexibility. Earlier this year, DZYNE announced that the ULTRA Turbo completed a 60-hour flight at 25,000 feet and 100 knots true airspeed, simulating mission conditions.

The aircraft supports various roles including ISR, electronic warfare, communications relay, and deployment of effects payloads.

Addressing the ISR Capability Gap

ULTRA has previously been tested in the Middle East during 2024, reportedly operating from Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and conducting missions extending toward Afghanistan. These operations complemented MQ-9 Reaper drones, which have shorter on-station times due to extended transit requirements.

The Air Force is showing growing interest in platforms that fill the capability gap between costly strategic ISR assets and more vulnerable tactical drones. While MQ-9 Reapers remain widely used in the region, they have experienced repeated losses in recent conflicts. Advanced systems like the rumored RQ-180 exist in a different cost and capability category.

ULTRA targets the middle tier by providing persistent ISR at a lower cost. The Air Force has requested $16.57 million for continued ULTRA development in fiscal year 2027.

This program aligns with ongoing discussions within the Air Force about eventually replacing the MQ-9 with more affordable, easily producible systems capable of operating in larger quantities. Although still limited in scale, ULTRA’s renewed deployment to the Middle East indicates the Air Force values long-endurance surveillance platforms able to remain over target areas for several days rather than just hours.