UK-based autonomous cargo drone company Windracer has established an operational base at Kasungu Airfield in Malawi’s central region to demonstrate the humanitarian capabilities of its ULTRA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The Windracers ULTRA is a heavylift cargo drone with a 150 kg payload capacity, 1,000 km range, 10-metre wingspan, and proprietary autopilot and mission control systems. The Kasungu base, which includes a new aircraft hangar, will serve as a real-world testing site for missions involving cargo delivery and parachute drops.
Low-cost logistics solutions
Developed to offer low-cost logistics solutions for hard-to-reach communities, ULTRA will support operations in medical logistics, disaster response, and environmental monitoring in collaboration with the Malawi Civil Aviation Authority and the Department of Meteorological Services.
Windracers’ founder, Stephen Wright, emphasized the drone’s humanitarian mission, highlighting past deployments in Ukraine, Antarctica, and remote UK islands, where the UAV conducted reconnaissance, resupply, and wildfire response missions. Windracer joins a growing global cargo drone industry alongside players like Dronamics (Europe), Natilus (US), and Air White Whale (China).