TEKEVER, a provider of AI-enabled autonomous systems, has been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to deliver CORVUS, the British Army’s new surveillance capability based on the AR5 autonomous system.
Under the programme, the British Army will use TEKEVER’s AR5 system through a contract worth up to £400 million over ten years. The full contract is expected to sustain and create hundreds of highly skilled jobs across TEKEVER’s UK sites, supporting the UK defence and technology sector and the reindustrialisation of Britain’s industrial base.
Selected to replace the Army’s Watchkeeper capability, the AR5 offers improved endurance, sensor capability and reliability while carrying up to 50 kg of surveillance payloads, including cameras and other sensors. The system will provide persistent surveillance and reconnaissance through continuous intelligence gathering, delivering real-time data to support battlefield decision-making and help protect British forces.
CORVUS is intended to provide more than a new surveillance capability. The programme reflects TEKEVER’s approach of combining proven operational systems with continuous capability development, allowing emerging technologies and battlefield learning to be incorporated throughout the system’s service life.
The selection of CORVUS reinforces this approach and is intended to support the continued evolution of the capability in response to operational requirements.
The programme builds on TEKEVER’s growing role as a long-term capability partner to the UK and follows continued investment in sovereign manufacturing, engineering and operational support across the United Kingdom through its £400 million OVERMATCH strategic investment programme.
Production of the AR5 will be centred at TEKEVER’s new manufacturing facility in Swindon, supported by the company’s wider UK industrial footprint, including engineering operations in Bristol and Southampton, as well as training, testing and evaluation activities in West Wales.
As part of the programme, TEKEVER will lead a consortium of UK SME partners, creating and sustaining additional jobs across the UK. Subject to contract signature and final approvals, the capability is expected to begin entering service later this year and will be supported by TEKEVER for an initial period of at least five years, with options to extend.
The AR5 draws on TEKEVER’s operational experience in Ukraine, where the company’s autonomous systems have accumulated more than 50,000 operational flight hours since 2022. This experience supports TEKEVER’s approach to rapid capability development and continued adaptation to emerging operational requirements throughout the system’s service life.
“TEKEVER was built on the belief that operational advantage depends on continuous adaptation. CORVUS validates that vision by bringing together operational experience, AI-enabled autonomy and sovereign industrial capability into a programme designed to evolve throughout its service life. We believe this is how enduring operational advantage will be delivered,” said Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER.
“CORVUS represents a major step change in delivering cutting edge autonomy to the British Army. This isn’t about a platform, it’s about building and sustaining sovereign capability that stays one step ahead of our adversaries. Through CORVUS, TEKEVER aims to create a new type of partnership between government and industry where we will ensure a constant cycle of capability evolution that delivers decisive advantage to our end users,” said Karl Brew, Managing Director at TEKEVER.
