Tekever acquires Flowcopter to integrate hydraulic propulsion for AR6 heavy-lift UAS

Model of AR6 heavy-lift UAS at Farnborough International Air Show 2026. Credit: Tekever.

Portugal's leading unmanned aerial system (UAS) builder, Tekever, has acquired Scotland-based Flowcopter, according to a 1 September press release. The acquisition aims to integrate Flowcopter's novel hydraulic transmission technology into Tekever's heavy-lift UAS offerings.

Strategic Acquisition

Tekever has acquired Flowcopter, a Scottish aerospace company that was already a close supplier within its UAS component supply chain. The move brings Flowcopter's digital hydraulic transmission technology under Tekever's control as the company prepares to bring its latest AR6 system to market.

The AR6 system was first unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026, where Tekever displayed a scale model. Production is scheduled to begin by the end of this year at Tekever's Swindon facility.

Hydraulic Propulsion

Tekever claims the novel propulsion architecture enables extended capability, providing:

• Greater payload capacity
• Longer range
• Reliable performance beyond the limitations of other heavy-lift electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) quadcopter systems

"By combining a lightweight and rugged hydraulic system with a new generation of digital hydraulic pump technology, AR6 is designed to deliver greater control and efficiency while avoiding reliance on rare earth magnets," a Tekever executive told this reporter at the time of the unveiling.

Until now, the executive continued, the market has been dominated by short-range eVTOL systems, "creating a gap between tactical re-supply drones and larger crewed aircraft."

Part of the OVERMATCH Programme

This expansion is part of OVERMATCH, Tekever's long-term, £400 million ($540.7 million) investment programme aimed at expanding sovereign autonomy capabilities in the UK. The acquisition will preserve Flowcopter's engineering presence in Edinburgh under the Tekever brand.

AR6 Family

The AR6 family is designed to deliver market-leading payload capacity and endurance, capable of lifting 200 kg over 500 km.

Military Use Cases

• Casualty evacuation
• Forward logistics
• Combat wingman concepts – such as the UK Apache teaming concept under Project Nyx

Although the executive did not comment on specific platform submissions, they asserted that the project illustrates the type of mission and crewed-uncrewed teaming concept that AR6 "has been designed to support."

Broader Mission Capabilities

Notwithstanding any programme of record, the heavy-lift platform is designed with a focus on enabling a broad range of civilian and military missions, including:

• Logistics
• Offshore operations
• Medical support
• Search and rescue
• Disaster relief
• Forward logistics
• Casualty evacuation
• Combat wingman concepts