UK Army Selects Tekever AR5 Drones to Replace Watchkeeper Fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected the Tekever AR5 surveillance drone to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper fleet under Project CORVUS, in a deal worth up to £400 million over ten years. An initial order of six drones was placed, with plans for up to 24 by 2029. The AR5, combat-proven in Ukraine, offers longer endurance and will be built at a new facility in Swindon, creating hundreds of jobs. Deliveries are expected later in 2026.
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UK MoD Selects Tekever AR5 Drones to Replace British Army Watchkeeper Fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected Tekever's AR5 surveillance drones to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper fleet, with an investment of up to £400 million ($532 million) over ten years. The initial order includes six drones, with plans for up to 24 units by 2029. The AR5 is a medium-altitude, medium-endurance fixed-wing UAS with a 7.3-meter wingspan, capable of carrying 50 kg of surveillance equipment and remaining airborne for up to 20 hours. It will be built at Tekever's new manufacturing facility in Swindon. The agreement is subject to final approvals, with entry into service expected later this year. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the drone's proven use in Ukraine and its role in supporting British troops and innovation. The selection aligns with the UK government's £5 billion Defence Investment Plan for drone and autonomous technologies over the next four years.
UK Ministry of Defence Selects Tekever AR5 Drones to Replace British Army Watchkeeper Fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence has chosen Tekever's AR5 surveillance drones to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper fleet, with an investment of up to £400 million ($532 million) over the next ten years. The initial order includes six drones, with plans for up to 24 units by 2029. The AR5 is a medium-altitude, medium-endurance fixed-wing unmanned aerial system capable of carrying 50 kilograms of surveillance equipment and remaining airborne for up to 20 hours. It will be built at Tekever's new manufacturing facility in Swindon. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the drone's proven performance in Ukraine and its role in supporting British innovation and re-industrialisation. The selection aligns with the UK government's commitment to increase spending on drone and autonomous technologies, as outlined in the recent Defence Investment Plan allocating £5 billion over four years.
UK MoD Selects Tekever AR5 Drones to Replace British Army's Watchkeeper Fleet
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected Tekever's AR5 surveillance drones to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper fleet, with an investment of up to £400 million ($532 million) over the next ten years. The initial order includes six drones, with plans for up to 24 units by 2029. The AR5 is a medium-altitude, medium-endurance fixed-wing UAS with a 7.3-meter wingspan, capable of carrying 50 kg of surveillance equipment and remaining airborne for up to 20 hours. It will be built at Tekever's new manufacturing facility in Swindon. The MoD expects the AR5 to enter service later this year, with support committed for a minimum of five years. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the drone's proven performance in Ukraine. The selection aligns with the UK government's £5bn Defence Investment Plan for drone and autonomous technologies.
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UK Army selects battle-tested Tekever drone to replace Watchkeeper
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected the Tekever AR5 surveillance drone to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper fleet under Project CORVUS, a deal worth up to £400 million ($533 million) over ten years. The initial order covers six AR5 aircraft, with potential expansion to 24 by 2029, and first deliveries are expected later in 2026. The AR5, built by UK-based Tekever, can carry up to 50 kg of sensors and offers significantly greater endurance than Watchkeeper. Notably, the drone has been combat-proven in Ukraine, a factor cited by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. Tekever will build the AR5 at a new facility in Swindon, creating hundreds of skilled jobs. The program aims to provide the British Army with a rapidly evolving, sovereign surveillance capability.
UK Army selects battle-tested Tekever drone to replace Watchkeeper
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected the Tekever AR5 surveillance drone to replace the British Army's aging Watchkeeper fleet under Project CORVUS, in a deal worth up to £400 million ($533 million) over ten years. The initial order covers six AR5 aircraft, with potential expansion to 24 by 2029, and first deliveries expected later in 2026. The AR5, built by UK-based Tekever, can carry up to 50 kg of sensors and offers significantly longer endurance than Watchkeeper. Notably, the drone has been combat-proven by Ukrainian forces against Russia's invasion, lending it battlefield credibility. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the system's role in protecting troops and supporting British innovation. Tekever will build the AR5 at a new facility in Swindon, creating hundreds of skilled jobs. The program aims to deliver a continuously evolving sovereign capability for the British Army.
British Army to Replace Watchkeeper with Tekever AR5 Drones
The British Army has selected the Tekever AR5 surveillance drone to replace its ageing Watchkeeper fleet under a contract worth up to £400 million over ten years. The Ministry of Defence announced an initial order for six AR5 drones, with up to 24 expected by 2029. The fixed-wing tactical uncrewed aircraft can carry up to 50kg of surveillance equipment and offers longer endurance than previous systems, providing real-time intelligence to commanders. The drones will be built at Tekever's new manufacturing facility in Swindon, sustaining and creating hundreds of UK jobs. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the AR5's proven use in Ukraine and its role in supporting British troops while driving re-industrialisation. The Watchkeeper programme, developed by Thales UK based on an Israeli Elbit design, has been in service since 2014 but suffered delays and crashes. The AR5 has also been used by the UK for maritime surveillance in the English Channel. Subject to final approvals, the capability will begin entering service later this year.