Portuguese company Tekever unveiled its AR5 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at Farnborough International Airshow, and the launch included a live feed from operations in the Atlantic.
In 2017 Tekever was awarded a contract to produce an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capability for the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), which was worth EUR77 million (USD89.7 million). EMSA UAVs carry out a range of functions including search and rescue, pollution monitoring, and detection of illegal activities such as smuggling and illegal fishing.
The AR5 is a twin-engine fixed-wing UAS optimised for wide area maritime surveillance. The system appears to be capable and has obvious military applications. During the airshow the company was certainly marketing it towards military as well as civilian customers.
Of note was Tekever’s model for providing capability. The company is able to offer a complete service, including maintenance, pilots, and operators.
Source: Jane’s 360