Portugal’s Tekever AR5 UAS has been selected by UK MoD for Project CORVUS to replace the British Army Watchkeeper WK 450 fleet.
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Press Release, Whitehall, 25 July 2026: [extracts] British soldiers will be better protected and more lethal on the battlefield as a new investment of up to £400 million will see the Army equipped with the latest spy drone technology.
The new drones will be able to carry up to 50kg in surveillance equipment, such as cameras and sensors, and can fly for longer than previous systems the Army has used, giving commanders real-time intelligence to protect troops and inform battlefield decisions. The initial order will be for six AR5 drones, with up to 24 delivered by 2029. The AR5 has been selected to replace the ageing Watchkeeper drones, under a deal worth up to £400 million over the next ten years. The drone will be built in Tekever’s soon to be open Swindon manufacturing facility.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP said: “Proven in Ukraine and designed to protect British soldiers globally, we’ve chosen the UK-based Tekever AR5 drone to supply our personnel with kit that will keep them ahead of emerging threats.
“This investment will support our troops on deployment, while driving re-industrialisation and backing British innovation.”
Watchkeeper, in service since 2014, is reaching the end of its operational life. The new AR5 offers significantly improved endurance, sensor capability and reliability, ensuring that the Army maintains a battle-winning edge in surveillance and reconnaissance systems. The drone has been utilised by Ukraine’s Armed Forces on the battlefield, as they continue their fight against Russia’s unprovoked invasion.
Tekever UK’s Managing Director Karl Brew said: “CORVUS represents a major step change in delivering cutting edge autonomy to the British Army. This isn’t about a platform, it’s about building and sustaining sovereign capability that stays one step ahead of our adversaries.
“Through CORVUS, TEKEVER aims to create a new type of partnership between government and industry where we will ensure a constant cycle of capability evolution that delivers decisive advantage to our end users.”
Subject to contract signature and final approvals, the new capability will begin entering service later this year, with support sustained for at least five years and options to extend.
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