TEKEVER
TEKEVER builds AI-driven unmanned aircraft systems and mission software for defence, maritime-security and civil surveillance missions. Its AR3/AR5 platforms support ISR, maritime patrol, search-and-rescue and electronic-warfare roles; in 2025 the company passed a £1B valuation and launched a £400M UK OVERMATCH programme.
Market context
TEKEVER is one of the more credible European defence-autonomy builders, with operationally used UAS platforms and growing industrial scale. It matters because it combines platform manufacturing, autonomy, and mission payload integration in a category where Europe wants more sovereign capability. AR5
Facts
- Website: https://www.tekever.com/
- HQ: Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Founded: 2001
- Segment: aerial robotics and drones
- Known funding rounds: 2
Investors
- Baillie Gifford - Lead - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- Cedrus Capital - Participant - Vc - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- Crescent Cove - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- Iberis Semper - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- NATO Innovation Fund - Lead - Vc - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
- NSSIF - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2024-11-20
Commercial
2 commercial events; 2 contract awards; latest event 2026-06-18
- 2026-06-18 - Contract award - TEKEVER AR3 selected for Alberta wildfire detection operations - source: unmannedsystemstechnology.com
- 2026-05-21 - Contract award - UK MOD selects TEKEVER for Project NYX Apache wingman systems - source: unmannedsystemstechnology.com
European defence UAS company
TEKEVER develops fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems for maritime surveillance, ISR, electronic warfare and long-endurance missions.
- Target environment: Maritime patrol areas, border surveillance zones, ISR missions, electronic-warfare operations and defence UAS deployments.
- Deployment model: UAS platform supply and service contracts through AR3 and AR5 product lines for defence and maritime customers.
- Customer context: Armed forces, maritime agencies, border-security customers, coast guards and defence procurement bodies.
- Workflow context: ISR, maritime surveillance, target detection, electronic warfare support, border monitoring and long-endurance aerial operations.
- Commercial maturity: Commercially deployed defence UAS company with AR3 and AR5 systems used in operational and government programs.
- Market position: European UAS builder focused on long-endurance surveillance and defence mission systems.
- Adoption constraints: Adoption depends on procurement cycles, payload integration, airspace permissions, endurance, communications resilience and operational support.
- Adjacent context: Adjacent context includes defence drones, maritime patrol UAS, ISR platforms and electronic-warfare UAV programs.
- Source confidence: high
Events
- 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…
- 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 tes…
- 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…
- 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 an…
- 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 sensi…
- 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 Sta…
- 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. Th…
- 2025-11-12 - Partnership - TEKEVER and ARKEUS integrate Warden hyperspectral sensor for long-range detection - TEKEVER and ARKEUS integrated ARKEUS' Warden hyperspectral sensor to enhance long-range detection and mission effectiveness. The integration combines ARKEUS sensing payloads with TEKEVER unmanned aerial systems. The work strengthens ARKEUS' role in UAS sensin…
- 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 alongs…
- 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 unma…
- 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-capac…
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.
Customers and deployments
- Named Wildfire Detection Operation - Alberta wildfire detection operations - 2026-06-18 - Phoenix Heli-Flight / Alberta wildfire program - wildfire detection - TEKEVER AR3 UAS were selected for Alberta wildfire-detectio…
- Programme Investment Gbp - £400 million UK OVERMATCH programme - 2025-05-20 - UAS production expansion - TEKEVER announced a five-year £400 million UK OVERMATCH programme including expanded UK production of AR3 and AR5…
TEKEVER canonical Korthos profile