TEKEVER
About
About TEKEVER
TEKEVER's ATLAS software connects mission planning, live observation and historical analysis with the data collected by its aircraft. Operators can define areas of interest, follow missions remotely and retrieve previous observations for review. The company supplies aircraft, payload integration and supporting intelligence services around this workflow.
Its aerial portfolio now extends toward heavy lift through the AR6 programme. TEKEVER acquired Flowcopter in September 2026, bringing the Edinburgh team's hydraulic-transmission technology and engineering capability into the group following their collaboration on AR6. This adds propulsion development for cargo and support missions alongside the company's established surveillance aircraft and mission-data business.
Products
Operations
Production capacity
- Production capacity
2025-05-20 - TEKEVER announced a five-year £400 million UK OVERMATCH programme including expanded UK production of AR3 and AR5 unmanned aircraft systems. - AR3 and AR5 UAS production expansion
Source
Deployments
- Customer site
2026-06-18 - TEKEVER AR3 UAS were selected for Alberta wildfire-detection operations with Phoenix Heli-Flight and Nova Maps software. - TEKEVER AR3 wildfire detection - Alberta wildfire detection operations
Source
Observed use
- AR3 EVO with Warden Hyperspectral Optical Radar
Physical Demo - Mounted - TEKEVER AR3 EVO flew with ARKEUS Warden hyperspectral radar during a joint integration and flight-test campaign.
Source
Supply
Funding
- 2026-09-23 - Series D (first close) - TEKEVER reaches first close of $580M Series D target
valuation: $6.4B - TEKEVER closed a majority of its targeted $580 million Series D at a $6.4 billion valuation, with further closings expected. - source: tekever.com
- 2025-05-06 - Undisclosed round - TEKEVER closes new round at valuation above £1B
valuation: > GBP 1B (~$1.34B) - TEKEVER announced a new financing fully subscribed by existing investors, confirming a valuation above £1 billion. - source: tekever.com
- 2024-11-20 - Series B - $81.5M - TEKEVER raises EUR 70 million Series B led by Baillie Gifford and NATO Innovation Fund
TEKEVER raised a EUR 70 million Series B to fund UAS product innovation, production-capacity scaling and geographic expansion. - source: nif.fund
Investors
- Baillie Gifford - Lead - Investment Firm - 3 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2024-11-20 - latest 2026-09-23
- Crescent Cove - Participant - Angel / Individual - 3 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2024-11-20 - latest 2026-09-23
- Iberis Capital - Participant - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-05-06 - latest 2026-09-23
- NATO Innovation Fund - Lead - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2024-11-20 - latest 2025-05-06
- Ventura Capital - Lead - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-05-06 - latest 2026-09-23
- Cedrus Capital - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- Iberis Semper - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- Merlyn Advisors - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-23
- NSSIF - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- UC Investments - Lead - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-09-23
Team
- Ricardo Mendes - Co-Founder and CEO - Leads TEKEVER strategy across UAS, autonomy, defence and security markets.
- Vítor Cristina - Co-Founder - Founder identity and technical-origin context for TEKEVER.
- Pedro Sinogas - Co-Founder - Founder identity and technical-origin context for TEKEVER.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-09-23 - Funding - TEKEVER reaches first close of $580M Series D target
UC Investments and Baillie Gifford led; Merlyn Advisors joined existing investors Crescent Cove, Ventura Capital and Iberis Capital. TEKEVER plans to expand international operations, industrial and technology capacity, strategic acquisitions and AI-powered autonomous systems. The company said this first close covers a majority of the fundraise and expects further Series D closings over the coming months.
Source - 2026-09-22 - Partnership - TEKEVER signs autonomous-systems cooperation MoU with Threod Systems
The framework covers joint technology development and potential future programmes and markets. The companies intend to combine complementary expertise in uncrewed aircraft and sovereign European production. The collaboration covers potential manufacturing and supply-chain opportunities for European programmes.
Source - 2026-09-16 - Contract Award - TEKEVER signs up-to-£400M British Army AR5 contract
The initial order covers six AR5 aircraft, with the programme potentially rising to 24 by 2029. AR5 manufacturing will be centred at TEKEVER’s new Swindon factory, supported by UK engineering and operational sites. The aircraft is intended to replace the Army’s Watchkeeper surveillance system, with AR5 entry into service expected later in 2026.
Source - 2026-08-11 - Contract Award - TEKEVER signs Portuguese Air Force contract for two AR5 aircraft
The procurement includes a ground-control station, the ATLAS mission system and operator training so the Air Force can run the aircraft directly. The authorised programme value is up to €7,796,747.97 before VAT and is financed through Portugal’s Military Programming Law. Aircraft acceptance and initial operating capability are expected in September, followed by a second training phase in October.
Source - 2026-07-21 - Product Launch - TEKEVER unveils AR6 autonomous heavy-lift family
TEKEVER states a design target of carrying 200 kg over 500 km. Civil missions include logistics, offshore operations, medical support, search and rescue and disaster relief. Military concepts include casualty evacuation, forward logistics and crewed-uncrewed teaming.
Source - 2026-06-18 - Deployment - TEKEVER AR3 selected for Alberta wildfire detection operations
Phoenix Heli-Flight will deploy TEKEVER AR3 aircraft to detect and monitor wildfire activity. The deployment combines long-endurance UAS, specialist sensors and Nova Maps real-time intelligence software. The contract extends a TEKEVER-Phoenix partnership that began in 2023 around Alberta wildfire response capabilities.
Source - 2026-06-12 - Partnership - TEKEVER and Sapient Perception plan 10K sensor tests on UAS
The MoU covers procurement and evaluation of Sapient Perception 10K camera systems on selected TEKEVER platforms. Planned work includes mechanical, electrical, software and data-interface assessment. The collaboration is expected to progress toward flight testing and operational validation at TEKEVER’s West Wales Airport facility.
Source - 2026-05-29 - Facility Opening - TEKEVER opens Estonia office ahead of Spring Storm 2026
The local office supports TEKEVER engagement with Estonian defense stakeholders and Baltic partners. TEKEVER planned demonstrations and operational engagements during Estonia’s Spring Storm 2026 exercise. The expansion built on TEKEVER’s real-world deployment experience and Baltic defense-market focus.
Source - 2026-05-26 - Partnership - TEKEVER and Inzpire partner on UAS operational readiness
Inzpire will act as preferred training and operational-readiness partner for TEKEVER-led opportunities. The agreement focuses on moving UAS customers from acquisition to mission-ready capability faster. The partnership combines TEKEVER autonomous platforms and live-trials capability with Inzpire training expertise.
Source - 2026-05-21 - Contract Award - UK MOD selects TEKEVER for Project NYX Apache wingman systems
Project NYX targets autonomous wingman systems for reconnaissance, target acquisition, electronic warfare and precision-strike support. TEKEVER will rapidly develop, test and demonstrate a UK-sovereign rotary platform paired with AI-enabled autonomy and sensing. The announcement also included a Bristol autonomy and engineering hub supporting UK OVERMATCH activity.
Source - 2026-05-18 - Facility Opening - TEKEVER opens North Carolina hub for US autonomous-systems support
The Fayetteville location will support technical coordination and daily engagement with US-based partners. TEKEVER positioned the hub near US defense innovation and operational user communities. The move marked TEKEVER’s official expansion into the United States.
Source - 2026-03-26 - Capability - TEKEVER integrates Quadsat SpectraLoc EW payload on AR3 EVO
TEKEVER and Quadsat completed flight integration tests of the SpectraLoc payload aboard the AR3 EVO tactical UAS. The integration enables passive detection, identification, and geolocation of radar emitters without the aircraft broadcasting its own signal. The tests validated interoperable airborne RF sensing on TEKEVER's modular platform in live flight conditions.
Source - 2025-11-04 - Demonstration - TEKEVER AR3 EVO flight-tests ARKEUS Warden hyperspectral radar
The campaign marked Warden's first flights in Europe. The tested configuration combined the modular AR3 EVO carrier with Warden's material-based hyperspectral identification. The companies reported real-time detection, classification and long-range tracking across maritime, coastal and overland conditions.
Source - 2025-09-10 - Product Launch - TEKEVER unveils battle-proven shipborne-capable AR3 EVO system
TEKEVER announced an AR3 EVO configuration positioned for shipborne operations, emphasizing deployment from vessels and confined maritime environments. The announcement frames the platform as battle-proven and suited to multi-mission maritime use cases alongside TEKEVER's existing tactical UAS line. This is a product-line / positioning milestone tied to the AR3 EVO family rather than a named end-customer deployment.
Source - 2025-05-20 - Production Milestone - TEKEVER launches £400M UK OVERMATCH programme after crossing £1B valuation
TEKEVER said existing investors backed a new funding round valuing the company above £1B. The company announced a five-year £400M UK OVERMATCH programme expected to create more than 1,000 jobs. The programme includes expanded UK production of AR3 and AR5 unmanned aircraft systems.
Source - 2025-05-06 - Funding - TEKEVER closes new round at valuation above £1B
Ventura Capital led the round, with Baillie Gifford, the NATO Innovation Fund, Iberis Capital and Crescent Cove participating. The financing accompanied a five-year £400 million UK investment plan spanning research, infrastructure and manufacturing.
Source - 2024-11-20 - Funding - TEKEVER raises EUR 70 million Series B led by Baillie Gifford and NATO Innovation Fund
TEKEVER raised EUR 70 million in a Series B funding round led by Baillie Gifford and backed by the NATO Innovation Fund. Other investors included NSSIF, Crescent Cove, Iberis Semper and Cedrus Capital. The capital supports product innovation, production-capacity scaling and expansion into priority markets.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Phoenix Heli-Flight / Alberta wildfire program
UAS Provider - TEKEVER AR3 UAS were selected for Alberta wildfire-detection operations with Phoenix Heli-Flight and Nova Maps software.
- Portuguese Air Force
Unmanned Aircraft Customer - Portugal ordered two TEKEVER AR5 aircraft and mission infrastructure for maritime surveillance.
- Threod Systems
Strategic Cooperation Mou - TEKEVER and Threod Systems signed an MoU to explore joint autonomous-systems technology and defence programmes.
- UK OVERMATCH programme
Uk Production Expansion Programme - TEKEVER announced a £400 million UK OVERMATCH programme including expanded AR3 and AR5 UAS production.
Context
Comparable profiles
- Quadsat
stack adjacency
Commercial
- TEKEVER signs up-to-£400M British Army AR5 contract
2026-09-16 · Order / contract · TEKEVER signed the UK Ministry of Defence Project CORVUS contract to bring its AR5 long-endurance uncrewed aircraft into British Army service. The contract is worth up to £400 million.
Source - TEKEVER signs Portuguese Air Force contract for two AR5 aircraft
2026-08-11 · Order / contract · TEKEVER signed a contract to supply two AR5 unmanned aircraft and mission infrastructure for Portuguese maritime-surveillance, defence and public-interest operations.
Source - UK MOD selects TEKEVER for Project NYX Apache wingman systems
2026-05-21 · Order / contract · The UK Ministry of Defence selected TEKEVER for Project NYX, a programme to develop autonomous uncrewed systems that can operate alongside Apache attack helicopters.
Source