The Portuguese Air Force is to begin operating Portuguese-made Tekever drones for maritime surveillance and defence, with the first AR5 systems due to be delivered in September. Lieutenant-Colonel Luís Henriques, operational coordinator of the Air Force’s AR5 working group, described the acquisition as a “significant reinforcement” of Portugal’s operational capabilities. The company will also work with the Air Force to develop its own autonomous operational capability, rather than simply supplying the aircraft. The latest agreement follows another Portuguese maritime surveillance contract secured by Tekever in June. The Portuguese company also made headlines last week after Russian forces said they had intercepted a Tekever AR3 being operated in Ukraine.