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TEKEVER has signed a contract with the Portuguese Air Force to supply its AR5 autonomous system for surveillance missions, with delivery scheduled as early as September, as per a recent press statement.
The Portuguese company, which specialises in AI-driven autonomous systems, will provide the Ground Control Station and ATLAS mission system alongside the aircraft. The deal also includes operator training for Air Force personnel.
The Air Force will operate the AR5 platforms directly. They will support maritime surveillance, security and defence missions, along with monitoring of Portugal’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The systems will also back public interest operations, including rural firefighting, coastal security and environmental protection.
TEKEVER will run a knowledge transfer programme to prepare crews for independent operation. Initial training concludes in September alongside system delivery, with a second phase in October consolidating full operational readiness.
Tenente-Coronel LuÃs Henriques, Operational Coordinator of the Air Force’s AR5 Working Group, commented that the integration represents a significant enhancement of operational capabilities, offering greater range, endurance and flexibility for national security missions.
Pedro Petiz, Director of Portugal at TEKEVER, added that the contract puts a Portuguese-developed autonomous capability to work protecting the country’s airspace and maritime territory, while strengthening national operational autonomy.
The AR5 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance fixed-wing unmanned aircraft built for wide-area intelligence gathering. It offers up to 20 hours of endurance and a 50kg payload capacity, with satellite communications enabling operations beyond radio line of sight. TEKEVER systems have logged thousands of flight hours with clients including the UK Home Office and the European Maritime Safety Agency, and are currently operating in Ukraine.
Learn more on Tekever’s website
