MoD selects CORVUS for British Army’s surveillance capability

Provider of AI-enabled autonomous systems, TEKEVER, has been selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to deliver CORVUS, the British Army‘s new surveillance capability based on the AR5 autonomous system.

Under the programme, the British Army will leverage TEKEVER’s proven AR5 system in a contract worth up to £400 million over the next 10 years. The full contract will sustain and create hundreds of highly skilled jobs across TEKEVER’s UK sites, strengthening the UK’s defence and technology sector while supporting the reindustrialisation of Britain’s industrial base.

Greater endurance and data delivery

Selected to replace the British Army’s Watchkeeper capability, the AR5 offers significantly improved endurance, sensor capability and reliability while carrying up to 50 kg of surveillance payloads, including cameras and sensors. The system will provide persistent surveillance and reconnaissance through round-the-clock intelligence gathering, delivering real-time data to support battlefield decision-making and help protect British forces.

CORVUS will deliver military capability with enduring operational advantage and continuous capability evolution, enabling emerging technologies and battlefield learning to be integrated throughout its service life.

The programme builds on TEKEVER’s continued investment in sovereign manufacturing, engineering and operational support across the UK through its £400 million OVERMATCH strategic investment programme.

Manufacturing, testing and training

Production of the AR5 will be centred at TEKEVER’s new manufacturing facility in Swindon, supported by the company’s wider UK industrial footprint, including engineering in Bristol and Southampton, with training, testing and evaluation activities in West Wales.

As part of the programme, TEKEVER will lead a consortium of UK SME partners creating and sustaining jobs across the UK. Subject to contract signature and final approvals, the capability will begin entering service later this year and will be supported by TEKEVER for an initial period of at least five years, with options to extend.

Operational adaptation

The AR5 draws on TEKEVER’s operational experience in Ukraine, where the company’s autonomous systems have accumulated more than 50,000 operational flight hours since 2022. That experience underpins TEKEVER’s approach to rapid capability development, ensuring the system can continue adapting to emerging operational needs throughout its service life.

Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, said: “TEKEVER was built on the belief that operational advantage depends on continuous adaptation. CORVUS validates that vision by bringing together operational experience, AI-enabled autonomy and sovereign industrial capability into a programme designed to evolve throughout its service life. We believe this is how enduring operational advantage will be delivered.”

Karl Brew, Managing Director at TEKEVER, said: “CORVUS represents a major step change in delivering cutting-edge autonomy to the British Army. This isn’t about a platform, it’s about building and sustaining sovereign capability that stays one step ahead of our adversaries. Through CORVUS, TEKEVER aims to create a new type of partnership between government and industry where we will ensure a constant cycle of capability evolution that delivers decisive advantage to our end users.”

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP said: “Proven in Ukraine and designed to protect British soldiers globally, we’ve chosen the UK-based TEKEVER AR5 drone to supply our personnel with kit that will keep them ahead of emerging threats. This investment will support our troops on deployment, while driving re-industrialisation and backing British innovation.”