The U.S. Air Force plans to deploy an upgraded version of its glider-like ULTRA surveillance drone to the Middle East for operational testing, bringing a faster, higher-flying variant of the long-endurance aircraft into one of its most surveillance-intensive wars.

Known as the ULTRA Turbo, the new version of the Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) adds a turbocharged engine while retaining the platform’s core advantage, staying airborne for multiple days at a time.

According to U.S. Air Force budget documents cited by The War Zone, the aircraft will undergo an operational assessment within U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, marking the next step toward broader operational evaluation. The testing effort will begin in fiscal year 2026 and continue into 2027 with additional capability improvements.

The move comes as demand for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage in the Middle East continues to rise, driven by operations involving Iran and ongoing maritime monitoring missions.

Faster, higher, and still built for endurance

DZYNE Technologies and AFRL developed the ULTRA family as a lower-cost long-endurance ISR platform. Unlike conventional military drones, the aircraft is derived from a commercial sport glider design, giving it a distinctive long-wing profile optimized for endurance.

The baseline ULTRA can reportedly remain airborne for more than 70 hours, fly up to 25,000 feet, and carry payloads weighing roughly 450 pounds. The new ULTRA Turbo trades some endurance for improved performance, with DZYNE listing more than 60 hours of flight time, speeds up to 120 knots, and an operational ceiling of 30,000 feet.

Power comes from a Rotax 916 turbocharged piston engine. DZYNE says the engine upgrade improves performance above 25,000 feet while enhancing weather resilience and operational flexibility. The company announced earlier this year that ULTRA Turbo completed a 60-hour mission-representative flight at 25,000 feet and 100 knots true airspeed.

The company also describes the aircraft as supporting ISR, electronic warfare, communications relay, and even launching effects payloads.

Filling the gap below high-end ISR assets

The Middle East is not a new territory for ULTRA. Earlier operational evaluations took place in 2024, with indications that the aircraft operated from Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and flew missions extending toward Afghanistan. Those missions reportedly complemented MQ-9 Reapers, which offered less on-station time after long transits.

The Air Force increasingly appears interested in platforms that sit between expensive strategic assets and more vulnerable tactical drones. MQ-9 Reapers have remained heavily used in the region but have also suffered repeated losses in recent conflicts. Meanwhile, highly advanced systems such as the rumored RQ-180 operate in a different cost and capability class.

ULTRA appears aimed at the middle ground. Persistent ISR at lower cost. The Air Force is seeking $16.57 million for continued ULTRA work in fiscal year 2027.

The program also makes sense in light of a frequently discussed Air Force discourse about eventually replacing the MQ-9 with lower-cost, more producible systems that can operate in larger numbers. While still relatively small, ULTRA’s return to the Middle East suggests the Air Force sees value in long-endurance surveillance platforms capable of remaining over target areas for days rather than hours.