Why engineers are joining European defence startups
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Lisbon, Portugal
Bath, United Kingdom
Toulouse, FranceCahors, FranceLisbon, PortugalBath, United KingdomToulouse, FranceCahors, France
TEKEVER
Builds fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems and an intelligence-as-a-service platform used by European maritime safety agencies, border forces and defence customers for long-endurance surveillance missions.
Founded 2001100-500 employeesLisboa, Portugal3 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Drones & UAVNaval & Maritime
Products & Solutions
AR5
A medium-altitude, medium-endurance fixed-wing UAS measuring 7.3 x 4.0 metres, with 20-hour endurance, 50 kg payload capacity and unlimited communications range via satellite link. Designed for maritime patrol, border surveillance and search and rescue, it is the platform deployed under TEKEVER's €30 million EMSA framework contract and is in active service with the UK Home Office for English Channel surveillance.
AR3
A compact, long-endurance fixed-wing UAS configurable for a wide range of missions including ISR, electronic warfare and anti-submarine operations. The AR3 has accumulated over 10,000 operational flight hours in Ukraine. It serves as the base platform for the UK Royal Air Force's StormShroud EW drone, fitted with Leonardo's BriteStorm electronic warfare suite.
AR4
A hand-launched mini-UAS built for close-range ISR and monitoring missions on land or at sea. Weighing under 2 kg with a 20 km communications range and two-hour endurance, it features hot-swappable sensor payloads and dual software-defined radio data links for real-time imagery transmission to frontline units.
ATLAS
An AI/ML-powered intelligence platform that manages UAV missions from pre-mission planning through live operations to post-mission analysis. Accessible via any web browser, it provides decision-makers with live video feeds, sensor data, flight path visualisation and object identification during missions, plus replay, annotation and cross-database correlation after missions complete.
Videos
TEKEVER ARX UAS
TEKEVER ATLAS
Surveillance by Tekever
About
TEKEVER is a Portuguese aerospace and defence company founded in 2001, headquartered in Lisbon with offices in Bath (UK) and Toulouse (France). The company designs, manufactures and operates fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems alongside an intelligence-as-a-service platform that processes and delivers the data those systems collect.
Offices
Lisbon, PortugalBath, United KingdomToulouse, FranceCahors, FranceBacked by
Ventura CapitalBaillie GiffordNATO Innovation FundNational Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF)Iberis CapitalCrescent Cove Advisors LPCedrus Capital
Customers & Partners
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)UK Home OfficeRoyal Air ForceUkrainian Armed ForcesPortuguese National Republican Guard (GNR)Spanish Ministry of InteriorGeneral Dynamics UKPlextekFrench DGAMERIOAvantixApex
Timeline
2025-05
Confirmed as a unicorn with valuation above £1 billion, and announced a £400 million five-year UK investment programme (OVERMATCH).
2024-11
Raised €70 million in a Series B round led by Baillie Gifford.
2024-04
Unveiled the ARX, a 600 kg UAS capable of deploying and coordinating a swarm of smaller drones, at Xponential in San Diego.
2022
Began supplying AR3 and AR5 systems to Ukrainian forces for long-range ISR missions.
2018
Launched commercial surveillance-as-a-service operations.
2001
Founded in Lisbon, Portugal.
Open Positions (3)
TEKEVER
Builds fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems and an intelligence-as-a-service platform used by European maritime safety agencies, border forces and defence customers for long-endurance surveillance missions.
Founded 2001100-500 employeesLisboa, Portugal3 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Drones & UAVNaval & Maritime
Products & Solutions
AR5
A medium-altitude, medium-endurance fixed-wing UAS measuring 7.3 x 4.0 metres, with 20-hour endurance, 50 kg payload capacity and unlimited communications range via satellite link. Designed for maritime patrol, border surveillance and search and rescue, it is the platform deployed under TEKEVER's €30 million EMSA framework contract and is in active service with the UK Home Office for English Channel surveillance.
AR3
A compact, long-endurance fixed-wing UAS configurable for a wide range of missions including ISR, electronic warfare and anti-submarine operations. The AR3 has accumulated over 10,000 operational flight hours in Ukraine. It serves as the base platform for the UK Royal Air Force's StormShroud EW drone, fitted with Leonardo's BriteStorm electronic warfare suite.
AR4
A hand-launched mini-UAS built for close-range ISR and monitoring missions on land or at sea. Weighing under 2 kg with a 20 km communications range and two-hour endurance, it features hot-swappable sensor payloads and dual software-defined radio data links for real-time imagery transmission to frontline units.
ATLAS
An AI/ML-powered intelligence platform that manages UAV missions from pre-mission planning through live operations to post-mission analysis. Accessible via any web browser, it provides decision-makers with live video feeds, sensor data, flight path visualisation and object identification during missions, plus replay, annotation and cross-database correlation after missions complete.
Videos
TEKEVER ARX UAS
TEKEVER ATLAS
Surveillance by Tekever
Open Positions (3)
About
TEKEVER is a Portuguese aerospace and defence company founded in 2001, headquartered in Lisbon with offices in Bath (UK) and Toulouse (France). The company designs, manufactures and operates fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems alongside an intelligence-as-a-service platform that processes and delivers the data those systems collect.
Offices
Lisbon, PortugalBath, United KingdomToulouse, FranceCahors, FranceBacked by
Ventura CapitalBaillie GiffordNATO Innovation FundNational Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF)Iberis CapitalCrescent Cove Advisors LPCedrus Capital
Customers & Partners
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)UK Home OfficeRoyal Air ForceUkrainian Armed ForcesPortuguese National Republican Guard (GNR)Spanish Ministry of InteriorGeneral Dynamics UKPlextekFrench DGAMERIOAvantixApex
Timeline
2025-05
Confirmed as a unicorn with valuation above £1 billion, and announced a £400 million five-year UK investment programme (OVERMATCH).
2024-11
Raised €70 million in a Series B round led by Baillie Gifford.
2024-04
Unveiled the ARX, a 600 kg UAS capable of deploying and coordinating a swarm of smaller drones, at Xponential in San Diego.
2022
Began supplying AR3 and AR5 systems to Ukrainian forces for long-range ISR missions.
2018
Launched commercial surveillance-as-a-service operations.
2001
Founded in Lisbon, Portugal.
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