Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), India’s leading forging and advanced engineering group, and Windracers Limited, the UK-based manufacturer of the high-capacity dual-use Windracers ULTRA drone, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the deployment, localisation, and operational applications of ULTRA Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) across India. The MoU was formalized at DSEI UK 2025 in London.
The partnership supports the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), fostering aerospace technology transfer and innovation while aligning with the India-UK Vision 2035. The initial two-year agreement will focus on localisation, joint trials, and developing a comprehensive roadmap for ULTRA deployment in India. The collaboration aims to meet emerging requirements across Indian military and civil sectors, including Carrier On Board Delivery (COD) operations for the Indian Navy, critical logistics support for the Army and Air Force, and other key roles in diverse operational environments.
Amit Kalyani, Joint MD of Bharat Forge, said, “This partnership with Windracers strengthens India’s indigenous UAV capabilities while providing robust solutions for high-stakes logistics in challenging terrains. ULTRA’s proven payload capacity and performance across high-altitude, maritime, and remote regions align with the Ministry of Defence’s long-term roadmap for unmanned logistics, naval operations, and dual-use technologies.”
Windracers ULTRA has demonstrated its multi-mission resilience in international operations, including Antarctic research missions, and is expected to provide similar operational advantages in India. Simon Muderack, CEO of Windracers, stated, “Working with Bharat Forge allows us to expand ULTRA’s dual-use operations, leveraging years of R&D to deliver strategic benefits and operational autonomy for India’s defence and civil stakeholders.”
ULTRA features proprietary mission control and autopilot systems, supporting six- to seven-hour endurance missions across diverse environments, from island territories to high-altitude Himalayan regions and the remote Northeast. The MoU reflects both companies’ broader strategy to advance UAV technology, innovation, and aerospace applications in India.
Pune-based BFL is a global leader in high-performance, safety-critical components and engineering solutions for sectors including automotive, defence, aerospace, power, oil and gas, rail, marine, and construction. With 18 manufacturing locations in five countries, BFL offers end-to-end capabilities from design and engineering to manufacturing, testing, and validation.
UK-based Windracers develops high-capacity, dual-use drones for civil and military applications. Its flagship ULTRA UAV is designed for endurance missions in challenging environments, delivering operational autonomy and advanced logistics capabilities.
