Windracers expands UK drone production capacity
September 4, 2025
Windracers, the British autonomous aircraft manufacturer, has opened its expanded factory in Hampshire, which the drone developer says will enable it to produce hundreds of airframes by 2027.
The refurbished 22,000 sq m facility in Hamble Valley, Fareham, will serve as the company’s primary base for developing and manufacturing the ULTRA drone, a rugged 10m wing-span aircraft with integrated proprietary autopilot systems and mission control software.
Windracers ULTRA proves popular
The ULTRA platform is one of the most advanced dual-use heavy-lift drones currently in operation, designed for both civil and defence applications.
Demand for the aircraft has grown steadily, with Windracers having delivered several dozen to customers so far.
The new facility will allow the business to more than double that figure by the end of the year, with ambitions to deliver hundreds more over the next two years, Windracers said.
Simon Muderack, CEO at Windracers, said: “This expansion is a major step for Windracers. It gives us the space and capability to scale up production of ULTRA aircraft, creating skilled jobs here in Hampshire and meeting demand from customers in the UK and overseas.
“We are proud to be building world-leading technology in Fareham and to play a part in strengthening the UK’s aviation industry, and we are grateful for the support of the local community as we grow.”
Demonstrating aid missions in Malawi
Windracers recently established a base in Malawi to demonstrate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The operational base, in the Central Region of Malawi, features a newly created aircraft hangar and will provide a real-world testbed for the delivery and dropping by parachute capabilities of Windracers ULTRA.
Key to the Malawi mission is Windracers ULTRA MK2 – a heavy-lift long distance self-flying cargo aircraft capable of transporting a load of up to 150 kg with a range of up to 1,000 km.
The Windracers platform is dual-use, multi-mission and offers an optional 3-door drop bay floor to parachute aid and supplies.
It is undergoing trials focused on the delivery of vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies across remote areas.
Surveying the Antarctic Peninsula
The ULTRA platform also recently completed a series of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions on behalf of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
Scientists were able to deploy advanced gravity and magnetic sensors across previously inaccessible parts of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The new data, published this month in the Journal of Geophysical Research, reveals the presence of vast frozen magma bodies buried beneath the sea ice, offering fresh insight into the formation and deformation of the Earth’s crust in this remote region.
Until now, the lack of data from these areas had severely limited scientific understanding. In addition to geophysical readings, ULTRA captured photographs of newly explored islands that show how ancient rock structures were uplifted by tectonic forces.
