At TEKEVER, innovation isn’t a slogan or a side project. It is built into the way we design, test and deliver technology.
From the way our operators sit next to engineers, to the way our platforms are designed to be modular from the outset, we’ve created an environment where frontline insight rapidly becomes fielded capability. António Relvas explains how modular design and close operator-engineer collaboration are turning frontline insight into faster upgrades and smarter unmanned systems.
Turning insight into capability
At every TEKEVER site you’ll find subtle but effective ways for people to contribute ideas. One example is the QR code posters on workshop walls, which allow staff to submit feedback in seconds. More important is what happens next: suggestions are reviewed within days, and the best move to prototyping. This sends a powerful signal that frontline experience matters and that everyone – from technicians to operators – has a hand in shaping our technology.
Operators and engineers side by side
Our mission teams fly thousands of hours each year and then sit down with our engineering teams in the same week. Lessons learned in the field immediately influence the next update. This is one of the reasons why our AR3 platform alone has seen more than a hundred incremental improvements, many inspired directly by frontline feedback in theatres such as Ukraine.
Platforms built for change
From the start, our systems are designed to adapt. The AR-series UAS use interchangeable propulsion, payload, communications and autonomy layers. This approach makes upgrades fast and cost-effective, avoiding full redesigns. The AR3 EVO illustrates this perfectly: VTOL capability was added to a proven fixed-wing endurance system, giving customers flexibility in how they deploy in minutes.
Integrated, but open
We cover much of the value chain ourselves, which lets us move quickly and stay accountable, while still partnering widely where external expertise adds value. This model has enabled new payloads – such as electronic warfare packages on the AR3 or advanced radar on the AR5 – to be integrated at speed and proven in the field.
Measuring what matters
To keep innovation durable we use simple metrics: the time from idea to first test, the number of operator-origin improvements delivered, and the tangible benefits our customers see in the field. These measures keep everyone focused on outcomes rather than slogans.
Proven across our portfolio
AR3 and AR3 EVO: configurable for endurance or VTOL, refined through continuous evolution and proven in highly contested environments.
AR5: a twin-engine, long-endurance system trusted for wide-area maritime and border missions, integrating advanced payloads such as radar, SIGINT and SAR.
Digital and Space: from national-scale digital services to GAMASAR radar imaging, with teams sharing methods and insight across domains.
ARX: our newest system in development, designed to coordinate multiple drones from a single platform, taking adaptability and mission reach to the next level.
Keeping the flywheel turning
Sustaining innovation takes curious, hands-on builders, access to robust test environments and leadership that removes friction. Culture isn’t a set of slogans, it is the repeatable actions that make ideas easier to try and quicker to prove.