UK selects Tekever AR5 drones to replace Watchkeeper fleet under up to £400 million program
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected the Tekever AR5 unmanned aerial system to replace the British Army's Watchkeeper surveillance drones under a program valued at up to £400 million.
The United Kingdom has selected the Tekever AR5 unmanned aerial system to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper surveillance drone fleet under a procurement program worth up to £400 million.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the initial order will include six AR5 aircraft, with the fleet expected to expand to as many as 24 systems by 2029. Subject to final approvals and contract signature, the first systems are expected to enter service later this year.
The AR5 will provide intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance capabilities for the British Army. The platform can carry up to 50 kilograms of mission equipment, including electro-optical sensors and cameras, while offering greater endurance and improved reliability compared with the Watchkeeper system introduced in 2014, according to the ministry.
The procurement falls under Project CORVUS, one of several autonomous capability initiatives outlined in the UK's Defence Investment Plan announced in June. The broader strategy allocates more than £5 billion over four years for drones and autonomous systems across the armed forces, reflecting London's effort to accelerate the adoption of uncrewed technologies following operational lessons from recent conflicts, including Ukraine.
Industrial considerations also feature prominently in the program. The AR5 will be manufactured at Tekever's new production facility in Swindon, while the company is expected to sustain and create hundreds of jobs across its UK operations. The government said the investment is intended to strengthen the domestic defense industrial base and expand sovereign manufacturing capacity.
Tekever, originally established in Portugal, has expanded its UK footprint through investments in manufacturing, testing, and research infrastructure. The company has become a key participant in several British autonomous systems programs, including Project NYX, which is developing uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside the Army's Apache attack helicopters.
The AR5 has also been employed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, where the platform has accumulated operational experience in intelligence and reconnaissance missions, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
