BUILT FOR SPEED, DESIGNED FOR THE MISSION
Built for speed, designed for the mission: TEKEVER’s blueprint for AI-centric autonomous systems in Europe
A new model for European uncrewed systems
Across Europe, organisations in fields as varied as security, environmental monitoring, and defence face the same challenge: adapt quickly or risk falling behind. Traditional development cycles measured in years no longer keep pace with the speed of events. Today’s missions demand systems that can be fielded, tested, and refined in real time.
This is the environment in which TEKEVER has become Europe’s leading pan-European provider of AI-centric autonomy. Its position is defined not simply by size, but by a fully vertically integrated model, proven operational experience, and a culture of relentless optimisation.
Operating across aerospace engineering, propulsion systems, avionics, resilient communications, advanced payloads, software, data science, and AI, TEKEVER is far more than a UAV manufacturer - it is a technology enterprise capable of designing, building, and supporting complete, end-to-end systems. From uncrewed aerial platforms to mission software, from intelligence-as-a-service to complex electronic warfare, the company’s goal is clear: to
deliver actionable intelligence to operators at speed and at scale.
As Ricardo Mendes, TEKEVER’s CEO, puts it: “Innovation driven by real operational needs is the only innovation that matters. We don’t wait for a requirement to be written; we respond to what’s happening in the field.”
A trusted European partner with a proven track record
TEKEVER’s systems are deployed by frontline agencies, trusted by governments, and recognised for delivering results in the most demanding environments. Over the last decade, the company has become a familiar presence in European missions: from search-and-rescue in the Mediterranean to persistent coastal surveillance along the Atlantic, and from border security to environmental protection and biodiversity monitoring.
This blend of defence, security, and societal missions underscores TEKEVER’s resilience and versatility as a European partner committed to sovereignty and technological independence.
AR3 Evolution – learning at the speed of conflict
The AR3 Evolution epitomises TEKEVER’s philosophy of AI-driven, operator-centred design. Shaped by continuous operational use, most notably in Ukraine, the system has accumulated more than 10,000 flight hours and undergone over 100 design iterations. Each improvement – whether extending endurance, hardening against electronic warfare, or reducing reconfiguration time – has been forged in real operations.
Beyond conflict, the AR3 has been invaluable in civilian missions: wildfire prevention in Canada, coastal monitoring in Portugal, and conservation efforts across Europe. Its adaptability reflects TEKEVER’s commitment to AI-enabled autonomy designed for both contested battlefields and humanitarian challenges
AR5 – Europe’s first UAS-based maritime surveillance system
The AR5 extends TEKEVER’s leadership as Europe’s most advanced medium-altitude, medium-endurance platform.
Operating over the English Channel since 2019, it supports UK authorities in tackling illegal trafficking and safeguarding lives. “Every day, dozens of asylum seekers and refugees set off on the dangerous journey across the English Channel… Drones can identify humans in distress in a much faster way and help rescue teams,” explains Paul Webb, TEKEVER UK Managing Director.
With more than 12 hours’ endurance and a payload suite including maritime radar, SAR, EO/IR cameras, AIS and EPIRB receivers, the AR5 can cover vast areas, detect and track vessels, and provide real-time, highly accurate intelligence. It has already proven its worth in humanitarian missions, such as search-and-rescue in the Mediterranean, whilst also contributing to environmental monitoring like whale detection in the Pelagos Sanctuary.
Complementing it, the AR3 – with its 16-hour endurance, flexible payloads, and minimal logistics footprint – is ideal for tactical scenarios. Launched from mobile catapults and recovered by parachute or net, it creates a responsive layer alongside AR5 operations, maximising coverage and adaptability.
Digital first: From data to decision
If TEKEVER’s platforms provide the eyes and ears, its digital and AI backbone provides the brain. Data is ingested, fused, and transformed into actionable intelligence at speed, reducing cognitive load and accelerating decisionmaking.
This approach reflects TEKEVER’s origins as a software company: drones as “computers with wings”, designed from the outset to run applications, process data, and evolve rapidly. That philosophy still drives the company’s four business areas, ensuring that digital innovation enables every mission.
Investing in Europe’s future
TEKEVER’s commitment to Europe is tangible. The company has announced a £400 million investment in the UK over the next five years, creating more than 1,000 highly skilled jobs whilst reinforcing sovereign industrial capability.
A flagship programme enabled by this investment is StormShroud, a next-generation electronic warfare initiative under the Force’s (RAF) Autonomous Collaborative Platforms programme. At its core is the TEKEVER AR3, delivering agile, uncrewed capability to enhance the survivability of RAF combat aircraft. Equipped with Leonardo UK’s BriteStorm payload, the system is capable of disrupting enemy radar and enabling precision effects without exposing crewed aircraft to risk.
By combining a battle-proven tactical platform with advanced mission-specific payloads, TEKEVER has provided the RAF with a new electronic warfare capability in under six months. This achievement illustrates how AI-centric autonomy, European collaboration, and vertical integration can accelerate delivery of cutting-edge defence innovation.
People and culture
Behind TEKEVER’s achievements is a workforce of nearly 1,000, spread across cutting-edge facilities in the UK, Portugal, France, and Ukraine. Multidisciplinary teams bring together aerospace engineers, AI specialists, mission operators, and field technicians – united by a culture that values experimentation, rapid learning, and delivery.
As Mendes emphasises: “We want builders – people who are inquisitive, who want to experiment, learn, and deliver again. That is the culture that allows us to innovate at speed.”
Looking ahead
TEKEVER’s ambitions go beyond airborne ISR. The company is investing in space-based sensing and communications, digital twins, and AI-enabled autonomy that reduces operator workload whilst keeping humans firmly in the loop.
Ultimately, TEKEVER is a European company built on sovereignty, innovation, and scale. It delivers autonomy centred on AI, end-to-end integration, and operational relevance. Its systems are already saving lives, protecting borders, and advancing scientific knowledge – embodying a European vision of autonomous technology fit for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s missions.
https://www.tekever.com/
