UK Orders 1,025 Small Surveillance Drones and Invests £400m in Long-Endurance UAVs

The UK Ministry of Defence has approved a package of drone purchases to boost battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). The programme combines a £16 million procurement of 1,025 small ISR drones with a separate £400 million investment in longer-endurance Tekever AR5 unmanned aircraft to replace the Watchkeeper system.

Small ISR Drones for Frontline Troops

The £16 million contract covers 1,025 compact drones intended for rapid deployment by soldiers to improve situational awareness and threat detection. Under the deal:

• Evolve Dynamics (Hampshire) will supply 245 FOXE‑NATO micro-drones. Each unit weighs under 250g, includes infrared cameras for night operations and is designed for quick launch from a backpack or pouch.
• Marlborough Communications Ltd (Surrey) will deliver 670 Skydio X10 INTL drones, built by California-based Skydio; these systems support fast deployment and reach transit speeds of up to 45 mph.
• Brigantes Consulting and Harmattan AI (both UK) will supply 110 SONORA drones used for training, helping soldiers practise field procedures with realistic platforms.

Long-Endurance AR5 Fleet

Separately, the MoD has committed about £400 million to procure Tekever AR5 long-endurance surveillance drones to replace the Watchkeeper uncrewed air system, which has served since 2014 and is due to retire in 2027. The AR5 purchase will start with six aircraft and is planned to grow to 24 by 2029.

The AR5 is a high-endurance platform already deployed operationally in Ukraine. It can carry sensor and camera payloads up to 50 kg and will be assembled in Swindon, with the overall programme expected to support roughly 1,000 jobs across the UK, including sites in the South West, Edinburgh and London.

"Our soldiers deserve the best technology, and that's what we're delivering," said Luke Pollard MP, the Government Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry. "From small drones giving troops eyes on the enemy, to the AR5 offering commanders better intelligence over the battlefield, we're transforming the Army's ability to see, understand and act first."

Karl Brew, Managing Director of Tekever UK, added: "This investment allows us to grow our UK operations, create hundreds of skilled jobs and bring cutting-edge surveillance technology, proven on the battlefield in Ukraine, into service with British forces."

Why This Matters

Smaller, rapidly deployable drones extend frontline units' reach for reconnaissance and threat detection, while the AR5 fleet provides longer-duration battlefield oversight and heavier sensor capability. Together the purchases reflect a shift toward layered ISR—small, tactical systems for squads plus larger platforms for sustained surveillance.