Portuguese UAS manufacturer TEKEVER and British defence technology firm QinetiQ have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and testing of tactical uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) under the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) DroneWorks programme. The partnership aims to accelerate the delivery of next-generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for British forces through rapid prototyping and operational experimentation.
DroneWorks: A Strategic Innovation Hub for UAS Development
The DroneWorks programme is a UK MoD initiative designed to catalyse innovation in uncrewed aerial systems by fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academia. Managed by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), DroneWorks provides a framework for agile development cycles that enable faster integration of emerging technologies into operational platforms.
DroneWorks supports the British Army’s Human-Machine Teaming (HMT) concept and aligns with broader Defence Command Paper objectives that emphasize autonomy, digitisation, and rapid capability insertion. The programme has previously supported trials involving nano-UAVs like the FLIR Black Hornet 3 as well as larger Group 2/3 platforms for ISR missions.
Scope of TEKEVER–QinetiQ Collaboration
The newly signed MoU between TEKEVER and QinetiQ focuses on joint R&D efforts aimed at enhancing tactical UAS platforms with modular payloads, AI-driven analytics, secure communications links, and multi-domain interoperability. The companies will leverage their respective strengths—TEKEVER’s proven ISR drone platforms such as the AR3 and AR5 series, and QinetiQ’s expertise in mission systems integration, electronic warfare (EW), autonomy software frameworks like ACCSIOM™, and test & evaluation infrastructure.
Initial phases will involve joint flight trials in the UK using TEKEVER fixed-wing platforms equipped with advanced sensors provided by QinetiQ. These may include synthetic aperture radar (SAR), SIGINT payloads, or EW suites designed for contested environments. The goal is to validate performance in realistic operational scenarios including maritime surveillance, border security operations, or battlefield ISR support.
Platform Focus: TEKEVER AR3 & AR5 Evolution
TEKEVER brings two core tactical platforms into this partnership:
- AR3 NET RAY: A catapult-launched mini-UAV optimized for coastal surveillance missions. Endurance up to 8 hours with EO/IR gimbal payloads; optionally equipped with maritime radar or AIS receiver.
- AR5 LIFE RAY: A larger Group 3-class UAV capable of over 12 hours endurance. It supports satellite communications (SATCOM), multiple payload bays including SAR/GMTI radars, SIGINT sensors or life-saving devices such as lifebuoy dispensers.
The collaboration could see these airframes upgraded with enhanced autonomy stacks from QinetiQ—including real-time target recognition algorithms—and integrated into broader C4ISR networks via secure datalinks. This would improve their utility across both military ISR roles and civil applications such as search-and-rescue or environmental monitoring.
Operational Testing Through Live Trials
A key component of the partnership is live experimentation under realistic conditions—a hallmark of the DroneWorks approach. Trials are expected at MOD ranges including Boscombe Down or West Wales Airport where both companies can test platform endurance, comms resilience in GPS-denied environments, sensor fusion accuracy under cluttered EM conditions, and operator workload via ground control stations (GCS).
The use of surrogate targets—such as simulated enemy vehicles or maritime vessels—will allow validation of detection/tracking capabilities using AI-enhanced EO/IR feeds or passive RF sensing. Integration into digital command-and-control architectures will also be assessed using open standards like STANAG 4586 or NATO Federated Mission Networking protocols.
Strategic Implications for UK Defence Capability
This partnership reflects a broader trend within NATO militaries toward modularity in uncrewed systems design—allowing rapid reconfiguration based on mission needs—and increased reliance on sovereign supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainty. By combining a European OEM with a UK-based integrator under a government-backed innovation programme like DroneWorks, the initiative strengthens domestic industrial resilience while accelerating time-to-field for critical ISR tools.
The collaboration also positions both firms competitively for future procurement opportunities under programmes such as Future Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) replacements or persistent surveillance contracts supporting Joint Force Command operations.
Outlook: Toward Multi-Domain Integration
If successful in its early phases, the TEKEVER–QinetiQ initiative could expand toward multi-domain teaming concepts involving swarming drones coordinated with ground robots or manned assets via common control interfaces. This aligns with NATO’s evolving doctrine around Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) where data-sharing across land-sea-air domains is essential for tempo advantage against peer adversaries.
The companies have not disclosed financial terms or specific timelines but confirmed that initial demonstrations are planned within FY2025–26 under DE&S oversight. Future iterations may involve additional partners from academia or SMEs contributing niche technologies such as edge computing modules or low-SWaP SIGINT receivers.
