Lisbon, Aug. 11, 2026 (Lusa) - Portuguese technology firm Tekever has signed a contract with the Portuguese Air Force, which will now have autonomous capability using the AR5 system (drones) for maritime surveillance, security and defence missions, and for monitoring the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
«The contract also covers training of operators, as well as the supply of the Ground Control Station and the ATLAS mission system,» the technology firm and the Air Force stated in a press release issued on Tuesday, without disclosing the value of the contract.
This contract «represents a decisive step towards the immediate strengthening of Portuguese Air Force operational capabilities and the ongoing modernisation of its air assets, with the delivery of the systems and the achievement of initial operational capability already scheduled for this coming September».
The AR5 system will enable «the Portuguese Air Force to enhance its operational autonomy on long-range missions».
The platforms will be deployed on maritime surveillance, security and defence missions, monitoring the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and supporting missions in the public interest, including the Special Rural Firefighting Unit (DECIR), coastal security and environmental protection.
To ensure the autonomous and effective use of this new capability, Tekever will implement «a comprehensive knowledge transfer programme» and «the initial training of Air Force personnel will be completed by September, coinciding with the delivery of the systems».
The second phase of training «will take place in October, consolidating full operational readiness and the development of new skills among the operational teams».
«The introduction of the AR5 system represents a significant boost to the Portuguese Air Force's operational capabilities. This platform meets current surveillance, security and defence requirements, providing greater range, endurance and operational flexibility,» said Lieutenant-Colonel Luís Henriques, operational leader of the Air Force AR5 Working Group, as quoted in a press release.
Its integration «will strengthen capacity to monitor the Exclusive Economic Zone and support a wide range of missions in the public interest, contributing to an Air Force that is better prepared to respond to present and future challenges», he concludes.
For his part, Pedro Petiz, director of strategic development at Tekever, emphasises that «this contract puts an autonomous capability, developed and produced in Portugal, at the service of protecting our airspace and maritime territory».
In addition to supplying the aircraft, «we will cooperate with the Air Force in consolidating and developing its own operational capability, which will strengthen national autonomy, readiness and response capacity», concludes Pedro Petiz.
The technology firm's systems «have accumulated thousands of flight hours on missions involving coastal patrols, continuous surveillance, border protection, the detection of suspicious activities, environmental protection, and search and rescue».
This experience, the technology company adds, «has been consolidated through operations carried out for national and international bodies, including the UK Home Office and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)».
These systems are also in operation in Ukraine, where they carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions in an operational environment.
The Tekever AR5 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) fixed-wing unmanned aerial system, designed for intelligence-gathering missions over large areas.
It has a flight autonomy of up to 20 hours and the capacity to carry up to 50 kg of payload, and includes satellite communications (SATCOM), enabling operations beyond radio line of sight (BRLOS).
Its ability to operate from short or unprepared runways ensures high flexibility and operational resilience, even in the most demanding scenarios, according to the company.
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