Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), India’s leading forging and advanced engineering group, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK-based Windracers Limited, the manufacturer of the dual-use heavy-lift ULTRA drone, to collaborate on deploying and localizing UAV operations in India. The MoU was signed at DSEI UK 2025 in London.

The two-year agreement aims to advance technology transfer, conduct joint trials, and pave the way for definitive UAV deployment across India, supporting both military and civil sectors. The partnership aligns with the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the India-UK Vision 2035 initiative.

Windracers ULTRA is designed for high-altitude, maritime, and remote operations, including Carrier On Board Delivery (COD) for the Indian Navy and critical logistics support for the Army and Air Force. The drone has proven its reliability in international missions, including Antarctic research, and is expected to enhance India’s unmanned logistics, naval, and high-altitude supply capabilities.

Amit Kalyani, Joint MD of Bharat Forge, said the collaboration strengthens India’s indigenous UAV capabilities and aligns with the Ministry of Defence’s 15-year roadmap for unmanned logistics and dual-use technologies. Simon Muderack, CEO of Windracers, emphasized that the partnership leverages years of research and development to deliver strategic autonomy and operational efficiency for India’s defence and civil sectors.

ULTRA’s proprietary mission control and autopilot systems enable endurance missions of six to seven hours, operating across diverse terrains including oceanic islands, the Himalayas, and Northeast India. The MoU supports both companies’ broader aerospace strategy of enhancing UAV capabilities, innovation, and strategic defence applications in India.