The End of Watchkeeper
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected TEKEVER to deliver its new surveillance capability, designated CORVUS. The programme, valued at up to £400 million over the next decade, marks the formal replacement of the Army’s long-troubled Watchkeeper platform. Based on the TEKEVER AR5 autonomous system, CORVUS represents a shift toward software-defined, rapidly evolving hardware rather than static, multi-decade procurement cycles.
Technical Specifications and Scope
The AR5 is an AI-enabled autonomous system capable of carrying up to 50 kg of surveillance payloads. It offers significantly improved endurance and sensor reliability compared to its predecessor. TEKEVER’s model focuses on continuous evolution, allowing lessons learned from active conflict zones: specifically Ukraine, where the platform has logged over 50,000 flight hours: to be integrated directly into the British Army’s fleet.
Sovereign Industrial Impact
Production will be centered at a new manufacturing facility in Swindon. The contract is expected to create and sustain hundreds of jobs across the UK, including engineering hubs in Bristol and Southampton. This move aligns with the UK’s broader strategy of reindustrialization and the maintenance of sovereign industrial capabilities in the defense sector.
Operational Deployment
CORVUS is expected to enter service later this year. The initial contract period covers five years with options for extension. The system will provide persistent, round-the-clock intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to support real-time battlefield decision-making.