US firm sets 60-hour flight record for military unmanned aircraft

DZYNE Technologies has achieved a new endurance record for high-altitude military unmanned aircraft with its ULTRA Turbo system completing a 60-hour flight at 25,000 feet while maintaining a true airspeed of 100 knots. This milestone advances the capabilities of Group 5 unmanned aerial systems (UAS), emphasizing endurance as a critical factor for extended intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The flight was conducted under realistic operational conditions, demonstrating the aircraft’s ability to sustain altitude, speed, and long-duration performance, which enhances mission reach and responsiveness, especially in contested environments due to its GPS-hardened architecture. The ULTRA Turbo builds on DZYNE’s existing ULTRA UAS family but targets higher-end operational demands with a flexible payload capacity that supports diverse missions including electronic warfare, communications relay, and launched effects. Its compact logistical footprint enables rapid deployment and sustainment in austere locations, positioning it as a cost-effective alternative to larger strategic systems without compromising endurance. Beyond defense,