Portuguese Air Force to adopt drones tested in Ukraine

Olha Kovalchuk, STANISLAV POHORILOV - 12 August, 18:18

Photo: Militarnyi

The Portuguese Air Force will strengthen its maritime surveillance with AR5 drones specially designed by technology company Tekever for maritime missions.

Source: European Pravda, citing Euronews

Details: Tekever is reportedly due to begin delivering AR5 drones to the Portuguese Air Force in September for maritime surveillance missions. The company also supplies these systems to Ukraine.

The company, which has become an important player in the unmanned systems sector, especially in the context of drone exports to Ukraine, announced that it signed a contract with the Portuguese Air Force.

The agreement also includes "operator training, as well as the supply of the Ground Control Station and the ATLAS mission system".

The AR5 drone, which has a wingspan of almost 8 m and weighs about 200 kg, is specifically designed for maritime missions. The systems are expected to enable the Portuguese Air Force to "strengthen its operational autonomy on long-range missions".

These include maritime surveillance, security and defence, monitoring of the exclusive economic zone and support for missions in the public interest.

Tekever said that in the first phase it will train Portuguese Air Force personnel by September so that the military could operate the systems immediately after delivery. A second phase of training will then begin in October to consolidate "full operational readiness and the development of new skills within the operating teams".

Tekever did not disclose the value of the contract. However, Portugal's Ministry of Defence issued an order in November authorising the Air Force to purchase an unmanned aerial system for maritime patrols with a maximum total budget of just over €7.79 million.

Background:

AR5 drones are operated by Ukraine's defence forces. On the front, they carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions in combat conditions.
In April, Lithuania's government approved the purchase of a trial batch of US-made Merops AS-3 Surveyor interceptor drones, which Ukraine had tested on the battlefield.
In March, it reported that the US Army sent 10,000 Merops interceptor drones, which have proven effective in combat in Ukraine, to the Middle East.

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