The Army is to bring the Tekever AR5 into service under a contract worth up to £400 million, replacing the Watchkeeper system in use since 2014, alongside a separate £16 million deal delivering more than a thousand small drones, the Ministry of Defence stated.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, announced both at Defence Vehicle Dynamics, the biennial land warfare exhibition, on Wednesday.
The AR5 is a long-endurance surveillance aircraft able to carry up to 50kg of cameras and sensors. The deal begins with an initial order of six, rising to up to 24 by 2029, with the aircraft to be built at a new Tekever factory in Swindon. The type has already been used by Ukraine against Russia.
Mr Pollard said: “Our soldiers deserve the best technology, and that’s what we’re delivering. From small drones giving troops eyes on the enemy, to the AR5 offering commanders better intelligence over the battlefield, we’re transforming the Army’s ability to see, understand and act first.
“This is defence procurement that backs British industry, creates skilled jobs and keeps our Armed Forces ahead of our adversaries.”
According to the department, the Tekever contract will support more than 1,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030 across the company’s British sites, which include Bristol, Swindon, Lydd, London, Southampton, Edinburgh and West Wales Airport.
Karl Brew, Managing Director of Tekever UK, said: “We are proud to be delivering the AR5 to the British Army at this critical moment for national security. This investment allows us to grow our UK operations, create hundreds of skilled jobs and bring cutting-edge surveillance technology, proven on the battlefield in Ukraine, into service with British forces.”
The smaller aircraft come from three British small and medium-sized companies, with deliveries nearing completion. Evolve Dynamics of Hampshire is supplying 245 FOXE-NATO drones weighing less than 250g and fitted with infrared cameras for use at night. Marlborough Communications Limited of Surrey is providing 670 Skydio X10 INTL aircraft, which the department says can be ready to fly in under a minute and reach 45mph. A partnership between Brigantes Consulting of Exeter and Harmattan AI is delivering 110 SONORA drones, designed to help train soldiers before they use similar systems on operations.
That deal has created more than 30 new roles so far, with 18 already filled in Hampshire, Surrey and Exeter, including several veterans. The small drone contract was delivered by the National Armaments Director Group and forms part of Project Rapstone, the Army’s programme to bring new technology to soldiers faster, with the stated goal of doubling the Army’s fighting power by 2027 and moving new equipment from industry to the front line within 24 months.
Watchkeeper, the system the AR5 replaces, entered service in 2014 after a development programme that ran considerably over time and cost, and was withdrawn from service earlier this year. The Strategic Defence Review identified its replacement as part of a wider shift towards uncrewed systems, and the Defence Investment Plan commits new investment in the Army’s long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities including the next generation of uncrewed aerial systems.
This makes an awful lot of sense. Are we sure it’s us? 🤔
Already announced months ago.
16 million each?
£24 million for the drones. The rest is for MOD admin. 🙃
More grandstanding about previously known announcements. 24? my arse, 6 will be in service by 2029 onwards, the rest to slip to 2035, watch this space. These clowns know they wont be in charge in a couple of years so wont “waste” money or time on defence, but want to waste it on their voter pool in a blatant effort at buying votes.
These are properly cheap drones already in use by the Border Force, I would be astounded if the MoD managed to mess this one up.
You would think this would be simple, but never underestimate the ability of the MOD to fuck things up, and HMG to continue to bullshit! 👍
You could lose that amount on a bad day. They are making the same mistakes when it comes to drones I fear, buy too few and at a price not much cheaper than a manned version.