UK Army selects Tekever AR5 drone under Project Corvus

The British Army has chosen the Portuguese‑made Tekever AR5 unmanned aerial system to replace the Watchkeeper UAV as its primary intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. The decision, announced by the Ministry of Defence on 25 July 2026, is part of Project Corvus and carries a contract value of up to £400 million. Up to 24 AR5 drones will be delivered by 2029, with an initial batch of six expected to enter service later this year.

The AR5 will be assembled at Tekever’s new facility in Swindon, creating and sustaining hundreds of UK jobs. The platform offers a 20‑hour endurance, a payload of up to 50 kg and proven performance from its use by Ukraine’s armed forces. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the procurement as a step toward sovereign capability and re‑industrialisation, while the Army’s Senior Responsible Owner Brigadier Matt Birch described it as essential for modern contested‑airspace operations.