Tekever, the Portuguese-born defence technology company and unicorn, has reached 1,000 employees worldwide with the opening of a new hub in Leiria in central Portugal, the company has announced.
The facility is already operating with around 50 staff and is expected to double that number by early next year.
The expansion underscores Tekever’s position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing defence technology firms, with its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) deployed in both civilian and military contexts across the continent.
A strategic choice for Leiria
The new site covers 3,000 m² and was chosen for its location at the crossroads of academic talent and industrial expertise. Leiria is home to a diverse and highly specialised industrial ecosystem that Tekever has collaborated with for years, and its central position allows the company to strengthen ties with partners across Portugal.
Tekever also maintains a close partnership with the Politécnico de Leiria, supporting initiatives such as the Formula Student | LART | Leiria Academic Racing Team, which it frames as part of its investment in young talent and engineering education.
The Leiria hub is dedicated to highly specialised engineering work, including the design, development, testing, and trials of critical components that feed into Tekever’s broader innovation pipeline.
Growing European operations
Tekever’s workforce is spread across Caldas da Rainha, Ponte de Sor, Lisbon, Porto, and Leiria, along with sites in the United Kingdom and France. Its teams work on projects ranging from unmanned systems technology and services, next-generation satellite systems, and digital transformation solutions for its customers.
In the past months, Tekever’s AR5 drones have been conducting simultaneous missions in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
These flights are part of a European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) program carried out in partnership with CLS Group, a French satellite and data solutions provider.
The operations highlight Tekever’s increasing role in European maritime security. Its drones are used not only to monitor borders but also to track environmental changes and even monitor whale migrations, reflecting the dual-use potential of its technologies.
A track record of defence innovation
Founded in 2001, Tekever has become a key European player in the field of autonomous systems. Its unmanned aerial systems have seen deployment in Ukraine, where the company’s drones have logged more than 10,000 combat flight hours.
Tekever says its strategy is to build a defence innovation ecosystem that puts operational output at the centre, embraces new technologies quickly, and delivers mission capabilities faster than adversaries.
From scale-up to unicorn
Earlier this year, Tekever confirmed its unicorn status after a funding round that valued the company at over £1 billion. The raise was fully subscribed by existing investors, including Ventura Capital, Baillie Gifford, the NATO Innovation Fund, Iberis Capital, and Crescent Cove.
The financing coincided with the launch of OVERMATCH, a five-year £400 million development program in the UK. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s defence innovation ecosystem by establishing centres of excellence for autonomy, expanding testing and evaluation infrastructure, and scaling production hubs.
Tekever expects the investment to generate over 1,000 high-skilled jobs and bolster sovereign capabilities in next-generation warfare technologies.
AR3 EVO debut at DSEI UK
Looking ahead, Tekever is preparing to officially debut the AR3 Evolution (AR3 EVO) at the DSEI exhibition in London on 9 September.
The 25 kg fixed-wing UAV, part of the company’s medium-altitude, long-endurance line, includes an optional vertical take-off and landing capability.
Designed for versatility, the AR3 EVO is built to adapt from shipborne operations to rapid deployment in challenging environments, delivering reliable performance across missions.
Featured image: Courtesy of Tekever
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