British troops will receive AR5 drones that have been tested in Ukraine
The British Armed Forces will receive AR5 reconnaissance drones, which have undergone combat testing in Ukraine during the war with Russia. The use of these drones is intended to enhance the British Army’s reconnaissance capabilities and incorporate lessons learned from modern warfare.
The AR5 drones will replace the outdated Watchkeeper systems, which the British Armed Forces have been using since 2014. The new drones will begin arriving in the field by the end of the year.
The first contract calls for the delivery of six AR5s, and by 2029, British forces are set to receive up to 24 of these drones.
The drones will be manufactured at a facility owned by the Portuguese-British company Tekever, which is set to open soon in Swindon, in southwestern England. The deal is valued at £400 million over the next 10 years.
Commenting on the selection of the AR5, British Defense Minister Wes Streeting stated that this drone was designed to protect British soldiers and has already been tested in Ukraine.
“The Watchkeeper, which has been in service since 2014, is nearing the end of its service life. The new AR5 offers significantly improved endurance, sensor capabilities, and reliability, ensuring that the Army maintains its advantage in surveillance and reconnaissance systems, which will help our military stay ahead of new threats,” Streating noted.
The AR5 is a Portuguese-British medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Tekever to perform maritime and land surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, and patrols.
The history of the AR5 drone family began in the 2010s with a focus on civilian and military monitoring of national borders as part of missions for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
The UAV is built using a classic aircraft configuration and is capable of carrying up to 50 kg of payload—including optoelectronic stations, radars, and sensors.
The new systems are expected to enter service with the Royal Armed Forces as early as the end of this year.
This was reported by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense.
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