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Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), India’s largest forging and advanced engineering group, has partnered with UK-based Windracers Limited to bring the latter’s ULTRA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to India. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London.
The collaboration aims to localise production, conduct joint trials, and develop operational applications of the Windracers ULTRA in India over an initial two-year period, according to the company. The partnership takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing UK–India Free Trade Agreement negotiations and aligns with the India-UK Vision 2035 roadmap for strategic cooperation.
The ULTRA heavy-lift UAV, with its high payload capacity and endurance of up to seven hours, is expected to meet a range of Indian military and civilian requirements. Potential applications include carrier on board delivery (COD) for the Indian Navy, high-altitude logistics for the Army, and critical resupply missions for the Air Force. The companies also see opportunities in disaster relief, remote area connectivity, and other dual-use operations.
“Windracers ULTRA not only enhances India’s indigenous UAV capabilities but also delivers robust solutions for high-stakes logistics across some of the world’s most challenging geographies,” said Amit Kalyani, Joint Managing Director of Bharat Forge.
Windracers’ CEO Simon Muderack said the tie-up marks a “major step” in expanding the UAV’s dual-use role. The ULTRA platform has already supported missions in extreme conditions, including Antarctic research logistics.
The agreement represents Bharat Forge’s latest move into the aerospace and defence domain as the Indian industry pushes to expand indigenous UAV capabilities. If trials are successful, the companies are expected to formalise a longer-term arrangement for production and deployment in India.
Team BharatShakti
