Bharat Forge Eyes Partnership with Windracers to Offer ULTRA MK2 COD UAV to Indian Navy

In a strategic move to bolster India’s maritime logistics and unmanned capabilities, Pune-based defense and aerospace powerhouse Bharat Forge Ltd is in initial talks with UK-based Windracers to bring the ULTRA MK2 UAV to the Indian Navy. The collaboration is aimed at offering the ULTRA MK2 as a Cargo On Demand (COD) unmanned aerial vehicle—capable of rapidly transporting critical supplies across vast maritime distances.

This partnership, still in exploratory phases, follows Windracers' successful collaboration with the UK Royal Navy in 2023, where the ULTRA MK2 showcased its potential for autonomous, long-range, and heavy-payload delivery operations in naval environments. The joint effort with Bharat Forge now aims to bring those same advanced capabilities to India's defense ecosystem, with demonstrations planned for the Indian Ministry of Defence in the near future.

What is the Windracers ULTRA MK2?

The Windracers ULTRA MK2 is a twin-engine, fixed-wing UAV designed specifically for high-endurance cargo transport missions. It blends simplicity in design with rugged reliability, making it ideal for COD operations across land and sea. Built by Windracers Group Ltd, it is part of a new class of logistics UAVs intended to reduce reliance on traditional, more resource-intensive transport methods.

Key Specifications of the ULTRA MK2:

• Payload Capacity: 100 kg

• Range: Up to 1,000 km (with full payload)

• Cruise Speed: Approx. 144 km/h (90 mph)

• Wingspan: 10 meters

• Takeoff Weight: Around 350 kg

• Flight Autonomy: Fully autonomous flight control, including takeoff and landing

• Navigation: GNSS and onboard AI for terrain mapping and route optimization

• Engine Type: Dual piston engines with redundant power architecture

• Operational Altitude: 5,000 – 10,000 feet

• Launch & Recovery: Conventional runway-based takeoff and landing (but adaptable for austere airstrips or naval platforms)

The MK2 model is designed for high-reliability logistics operations, including in denied or contested environments. It is engineered for low-cost maintenance, minimal crew requirements, and operation in all-weather conditions, making it a suitable COD solution for ships at sea or isolated forward bases.

Strategic Relevance to the Indian Navy:

With India’s expansive maritime domain and the Navy’s increasing emphasis on logistics efficiency, distributed warfare, and unmanned capabilities, a UAV like the ULTRA MK2 could play a vital role. It could enable rapid resupply missions between ships or from shore to sea, eliminate human risk in hazardous areas, and serve during disaster relief missions or casualty evacuations in remote maritime zones.

The potential partnership with Bharat Forge, a key player in India’s private defense sector with a growing footprint in artillery systems, aerospace structures, and unmanned platforms, would also ensure Make in India compliance and local manufacturing, in alignment with India’s strategic defense self-reliance goals.

What’s Next?

According to Windracers, the next steps include joint demonstrations for the Indian Navy and defense ministry, including simulated COD missions to test integration within India's existing naval logistics chains. If successful, this could pave the way for Indian production or assembly of the ULTRA MK2 under license, with potential for customization to meet specific Navy requirements.

With this move, Bharat Forge not only signals its growing interest in the UAV segment but also underlines how Indian private sector players are now actively shaping the future of naval aviation and logistics through international collaborations and cutting-edge autonomous systems.