The UK plans to spend up to £400 million, approximately $533 million, on domestically produced Tekever AR5 surveillance UAVs. An initial six aircraft are planned, with as many as 24 delivered by 2029. The AR5 offers up to 20 hours of endurance and a 50-kilogram payload, and entry into service could begin in 2026, subject to final approvals.
Industry significance: This is a major competitive win for a newer European autonomy company and reflects accelerating demand for combat-proven, lower-cost UAS rather than traditional large, highly customized platforms.
