AR3 by Tekever: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · First full RAF StormShroud squadron deployment (216 Squadron)

AR3 development begins; early deployments2010Complete.
AR3 operational with Portuguese and European forces2015Complete.
AR3 deployed to Ukraine with 10,000+ combat hours by 20262022Complete.
RAF StormShroud entry; AR3 becomes RAF electronic-warfare backboneMay 2025Complete.
Tekever reaches unicorn status (>£1B valuation)May 2025Complete.
Project Corvus: British Army selects AR5 for Watchkeeper replacementJul 2026Complete.
$580M Series D at $6.4B valuationSep 2026Complete.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Q4 2026First full RAF StormShroud squadron deployment (216 Squadron) (next)
2027UK Swindon manufacturing facility opens

Current obstacles

EW-fighter coordinationJamming must time with fighter strikes; comms loss forces autonomous behavior, risking mistimed EW.
Payload weight and endurance trade-offAdding heavier EW or radar payloads reduces flight time; finding the balance for mission effectiveness while meeting endurance targets is ongoing.

Physics limits

Airspeed limits on a small platformAt 25 kg MTOW, the AR3's cruise speed of 85 km/h limits how quickly it can reposition or respond to urgent tasking compared to larger aircraft.
Payload is constrained by weight budgetA 4 kg payload limits sensor complexity; multi-sensor fusion (SAR + EO/IR + EW) requires careful power and weight distribution.

How it works

4 parts

Launch

Portable catapult from austere sites

Catapult-launched or vertical-takeoff from forward locations with minimal infrastructure.

Flight

16-hour autonomous cruise

Fixed-wing mode at 85 km/h for 16 hours; operates beyond radio range with waypoint navigation.

Sensors

SAR and electronic-warfare payloads

Swappable modular sensors: SAR for all-weather imaging, EO/IR for surveillance, BriteStorm EW system for radar jamming in RAF role.

EW role

Fighter support via radar jamming

StormShroud AR3s jam enemy air-defense radars during RAF F-35B and Typhoon strikes, improving fighter survivability.

Spec sheet

Spec	AR3
Endurance (fixed-wing mode)	16 hours^R (reported)
Endurance (VTOL mode)	8 hours^R (reported)
Wingspan	3.5 m^R (reported)
Maximum takeoff weight	25 kg^R (reported)
Payload capacity	4 kg^R (reported)
Combat hours logged in Ukraine	10,000+^R (reported)
Cruise speed	85 km/h^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Military drones & autonomy peers

Spec	AR3	Baykar Bayraktar Kizilelma
Maximum takeoff weight	25 kg^R (reported)	8,500 kg^R (reported)
Payload capacity	4 kg^R (reported)	1,500 kg^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Sep 2026

Major: Tekever closes $580M Series D at $6.4B valuation, led by UC Investments and Baillie GiffordPressFunding

Fri 2 May 2025

Major: RAF inducts AR3-powered StormShroud electronic-warfare system; 10,000+ AR3 combat hours in UkrainePressTest

About Tekever

The team behind AR3

Tekever

AR3 tactical drone, electronic warfare, surveillance

Portuguese defense company founded 2001 building the AR3 tactical UAV for NATO and European forces. AR3 has 10,000+ combat hours in Ukraine and powers RAF's StormShroud electronic-warfare system.

AR3 logged 10,000+ combat hours in Ukraine; backbone of RAF's StormShroud electronic-warfare system jamming enemy radars.
Reached unicorn May 2025 (£1B+); Project Corvus contract July 2026 (£400M); Series D $580M at $6.4B Sept 2026.
Committed £400M to UK manufacturing with new Swindon factory and up to 1,000 high-skilled jobs.

tekever.com (opens tekever.com)Company profile →

Founded: 200125 yrs
Headquarters: Portugal
Status: Private
Valuation: $6.4BprivateSep 2026
Raised: $580M1 round
Last round: Series D (partial) · $580MSep 2026
Works in: AviationMilitary drones & autonomy
Coverage: 1 program · 3 updateslatest 1 Sep 2026checked 11 Oct
Customers: Royal Air ForceUK Ministry of DefenceUkrainian Armed Forces
Partners: Leonardo UK
People: Ricardo MendesFounder & CEO

Spec

AR3

Endurance (fixed-wing mode)

16 hours^R (reported)

Endurance (VTOL mode)

8 hours^R (reported)

Wingspan

3.5 m^R (reported)

Maximum takeoff weight

25 kg^R (reported)

Payload capacity

4 kg^R (reported)

Combat hours logged in Ukraine

10,000+^R (reported)

Cruise speed

85 km/h^R (reported)

Spec

AR3

Baykar Bayraktar Kizilelma

Maximum takeoff weight

25 kg^R (reported)

8,500 kg^R (reported)

Payload capacity

4 kg^R (reported)

1,500 kg^R (reported)