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DZYNE Technologies has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Center for Rapid Innovation to provide three ULTRA Turbo uncrewed aircraft.
The Uncrewed Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) is a Group-5 system designed to provide strategic reach at a tactical cost. This contract marks a significant milestone as the platform transitions toward becoming a program of record, affirming its role in next-generation, multi-mission operations. The award follows a successful first flight of the turbocharged variant, which demonstrated the ability to maintain speed and power at altitudes exceeding 18,000 feet through rapid design and integration techniques.
The ULTRA Turbo offers more than 70 hours of flight endurance and features an upgraded SATCOM system to improve communications flexibility. With a payload capacity exceeding 450 pounds, the aircraft is engineered for persistent performance with a smaller footprint and lower operating costs than legacy ISR platforms. Its missions span various sectors, including electronic warfare, maritime patrol, disaster response, and infrastructure monitoring.
“ULTRA delivers more than altitude – it delivers dominance,” said Ed Smetak, EVP of Airborne Technologies at DZYNE. “With AFRL’s confidence and our production capacity, ULTRA is proving that disruptive endurance and mission versatility can be delivered affordably and at scale – redefining how Group-5 systems support both government and commercial customers.”
“The ULTRA platform represents exactly the type of rapid, cost-effective innovation AFRL’s Center for Rapid Innovation seeks to advance,” added Mr. Paul Litke, AFRL/RSC Director. “Its endurance, payload flexibility, and new turbocharged performance profile provide the Air Force with a unique capability to explore next-generation ISR operations at a fraction of the cost of legacy systems.”
To support increasing demand for its product lines, DZYNE recently consolidated its engineering and manufacturing operations into a new 125,000-square-foot facility. This state-of-the-art site unites research and production under one roof to accelerate the delivery of the ULTRA and LEAP platforms for defense, homeland, and commercial customers.
