UK selects Tekever AR5 as Watchkeeper replacement
Seen at the DSEI 2025 defence exhibition in London, the Tekever AR5 will begin replacing the British Army's Watchkeeper ISTAR capability from later in 2026. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
The United Kingdom has selected the Tekever AR5 to replace its soon-to-be-retired Thales WK 450 Watchkeeper intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) unmanned aircraft system (UAS).
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the selection on 25 July 2025, saying that up to GBP400 million (USD533 million) will be invested over the next 10 years in acquiring an initial six air vehicles under Project Corvus, with up to 24 delivered by 2029.
“Proven in Ukraine and designed to protect British soldiers globally, we have chosen the UK-based Tekever AR5 drone to supply our personnel with kit that will keep them ahead of emerging threats,” Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting said.
While Tekever is a Portuguese-based company, the AR5s for the British Army will be built at its Swindon site in England. Subject to contract signature and final approvals, the new ISTAR capability will begin entering service later in 2026, with support sustained for at least five years and options to extend.
The twin-150 cc engined AR5 is 4 m in length, has a wingspan of 7.3 m, a maximum take-off weight of 180 kg (including a payload of 50 kg), a service ceiling of 15,000 ft, a cruise speed of 54 kt, a range of 1,000 km, and a maximum endurance of 20 hr.
The MoD did not disclose the specific mission fit for the British Army's AR5 capability, but Janes All the World's Aircraft: Unmanned
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