TEKEVER, a leading pan-European technology company developing AI-centric unmanned autonomous systems (UAS), has announced it will invest over £400 million in research, infrastructure, and defence technology development in the UK, leading to the creation of over 1000 highly-skilled jobs over the next five years.
The investment is part of TEKEVER’s ambitious five-year UK development program known as OVERMATCH, which is designed to transform the nation’s defence capabilities by accelerating innovation in AI and autonomy – technological advancements that have become vital to rapidly evolving modern warfare tactics.
This strategic investment supports the UK’s plans to become a defence industrial superpower, including bolstering advanced manufacturing production and bringing technology to the front line at speed, ultimately positioning the UK as a leader among allied nations.
TEKEVER’s announcement coincides with the launch of StormShroud, a next-generation electronic warfare programme delivered under the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) Programme. At the core of TEKEVER’s contribution is the AR3, a tactical uncrewed aerial system (UAS) engineered for endurance and adaptability. With a strong operational track record — including deployment in Ukraine — the AR3 has been selected as the aerial platform for this new capability.
StormShroud introduces a new operational concept: supporting crewed aircraft such as the Typhoon and F-35 Lightning by disrupting enemy radar and enabling precision strikes to be delivered undetected. This allows electronic warfare effects to be deployed without exposing crewed platforms to risk, freeing personnel for other critical frontline missions.
The selection of the TEKEVER AR3 for StormShroud reflects its proven performance in conflict zones. Since 2022, the AI-enabled AR3 has logged over 10,000 operational flight hours in Ukraine, autonomously detecting and tracking vehicles and vessels in contested environments. As part of this programme, the AR3 will be equipped with Leonardo UK’s BriteStorm electronic warfare payload, developed and manufactured in Luton, further demonstrating the value of agile industrial collaboration in support of UK and allied defence objectives.
Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, commented: “TEKEVER is proud to be part of the RAF’s Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) programme, rapidly delivering the STORMSHROUD capability in under 6 months. This programme is a strong example of how the Ministry of Defence and Industry can work collaboratively to deliver cutting edge Defence capability at pace while incorporating lessons learned from operational feedback in Ukraine and supporting the UK sovereign industrial base. Building on this foundation, and our long term partnership with MOD in supporting Ukraine we are today announcing our OVERMATCH programme, investing £400 million in the UK over the next 5 years and creating 1,000 high-skilled jobs. This strategic commitment to the UK is more than an industrial expansion – it is a plan to position the UK to lead the transformation of Europe’s defence landscape by delivering faster, more adaptive capabilities that stay ahead of evolving threats.”
The Prime Minister who visited the Leonardo UK site in the South East today saw first-hand the expertise that goes into manufacturing the drones, and meeting the staff involved in delivering it, including many engineering apprentices representing the next generation of British defence industry excellence.
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