TEKEVER, Europe’s leading provider of AI-driven autonomous systems, today unveiled its most advanced and adaptable unmanned aerial system (UAS) to date at DSEI 2025. The AR3 Evolution (AR3 EVO) is the latest development in TEKEVER’s AR3 family, expanding the company’s portfolio to support the creation of sovereign defence capabilities. As the UK and Europe look to bolster their armed forces, the AR3 EVO ensures allied nations remain at the cutting edge of next-generation autonomy.
Developed from hundreds of incremental evolutions and tens of thousands of operational flight hours on the Ukrainian front line, the AR3 EVO redefines unmanned aerial surveillance. Drawing on TEKEVER’s defence heritage, its proven battlefield performance delivers an agile, mission-ready system built to excel in the most challenging operational environments. First deployed in Ukraine in 2022 to detect enemy assets and transmit critical intelligence, the AR3 platform has now evolved into the highly adaptable AR3 EVO – incorporating a new modular design, low-signature propulsion, resilient communications, and advanced navigation autonomy that thrives even in hardest communications and GNSS contested environments.
With survivability and adaptability at its core, the AR3 EVO introduces a unique shipborne capability that significantly extends TEKEVER’s operational reach and reinforces its position as a trusted partner to naval and maritime security sectors. Able to launch and land in spaces as small as 5×5 metres – including the decks of small vessels – the system offers unprecedented maritime flexibility. This capability enables persistent, wide-area maritime intelligence and surveillance in areas previously inaccessible. From anti-piracy missions and coastal monitoring to fleet situational awareness and border security, the AR3 EVO is set to become an indispensable asset for navies, coast guards, and maritime agencies worldwide.
The AR3 EVO is engineered around four core pillars of flexibility:
• Payloads – Configurable for a wide range of sensors and effectors, from EO/IR gimbals and SAR radars to SIGINT, electronic warfare modules, and laser designators.
• Propulsion – Electric, combustion, or heavy-fuel engines selectable to optimise for endurance, speed, altitude or power.
• Deployment – Precision VTOL capability for operations in confined spaces, alongside a pure fixed-wing option for extended endurance.
• Communications – Plug-and-play architecture supporting SATCOM, LTE, and line-of-sight links for secure, reliable connectivity in any environment.
With its dual deployment system – catapult launch for optimized endurance, and VTOL for confined or mobile environments – the AR3 EVO can be mission-ready in under five minutes and allows very short training cycles for operators. Its modular architecture supports rapid reconfiguration for multiple mission profiles, including:
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Electronic Attack
• Communications Relay
• Maritime Wide Area Surveillance
From enabling Ukrainian units to track enemy movements deep behind the front lines to delivering unmatched ISR coverage from the deck of a ship, the AR3 EVO addresses a growing global need: a portable, modular ISR system for military and security agencies facing fast-evolving threats.
Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, said:
“TEKEVER’s legacy is built on delivering operationally proven unmanned aerial systems that meet the world’s most urgent defence and security needs. The AR3 EVO is the culmination of years of battlefield experience, close collaboration with our partners in Ukraine, and relentless innovation. It represents not just an evolution of our technology, but a revolution in what small tactical UAVs can achieve – from seamless shipborne operations to advanced autonomy in denied environments. With the AR3 EVO, we are pushing the limits of capability, survivability, and adaptability, reaffirming TEKEVER’s role as a trusted leader in next-generation aerial intelligence solutions.”