Portuguese Air Force receives Tekever AR5 with ground station and training

In the latest unmanned systems news, the Portuguese Air Force has concluded a contract for the delivery of the Tekever AR5 system with Tekever, a European technology company for AI-enabled autonomous systems. The autonomous platforms are to be handed over as early as September; the Air Force will operate them directly itself.

According to the contract, the drones come with the ground control station and the ATLAS mission system; in addition, Tekever is responsible for training the operators. For the Portuguese Air Force, the agreement is considered a decisive step: it is intended to increase its operational capabilities immediately and to advance the ongoing modernisation of its aircraft. The plan is for the systems to be delivered in September, when initial operational capability is also to be reached.

Missions at sea and on land

On long-range missions, the AR5 system is intended to give the Air Force greater operational autonomy. The platforms are earmarked for maritime surveillance, security and defence missions and for monitoring the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

They are also to support public tasks – named are the special unit for fighting rural wildfires (DECIR), coastal security and environmental protection.

To ensure that the new capability can be used autonomously and effectively, Tekever is implementing a comprehensive knowledge transfer programme. By September, in parallel with delivery, Air Force personnel are to have completed initial training. A second phase follows in October, intended to consolidate full operational capability and build new skills within the operational teams.

“The integration of the AR5 system represents a significant improvement in the operational capabilities of the Portuguese Air Force. This platform meets current surveillance, security and defence requirements and offers greater range, endurance and operational flexibility. Its integration will strengthen the nation's ability to monitor the Exclusive Economic Zone and to support a wide range of missions in the public interest.”— Lieutenant Colonel (Tenente-Coronel) Luís Henriques, Operational Coordinator of the Portuguese Air Force AR5 working group

“This contract brings into service an autonomous capability developed and produced in Portugal to protect our airspace and our territory. In addition to delivering the aircraft, we will work with the Portuguese Air Force to consolidate and further develop its own operational capability, which will strengthen national autonomy, readiness and responsiveness.”— Pedro Petiz, Director for Portugal at Tekever

Tekever AR5 with up to 20 hours of endurance

Tekever systems have already logged thousands of flight hours: on coastal patrols and persistent surveillance, in border protection, in detecting suspicious activity, in environmental protection and in search and rescue missions. This experience was gained on behalf of national and international bodies, among them the UK Home Office and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Tekever systems are also currently deployed in Ukraine, where they fly surveillance and reconnaissance missions in an operational environment.

The AR5 is designed for wide-area reconnaissance. It is an unmanned fixed-wing Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) system that can stay airborne for up to 20 hours while carrying a payload of up to 50 kilograms. Satellite communications (SATCOM) also enable operations beyond radio line of sight (BRLOS).

Because the system can also operate from short or unpaved runways, it remains flexible and operationally resilient even in the most demanding conditions.