UK Project Corvus (Watchkeeper Replacement)

Project Corvus is the British Army programme, run by Defence Equipment and Support for the Land Tactical Deep Find requirement, to replace the Watchkeeper WK450 tactical drone, which is due to leave service by March 2027. A competitive tender issued in July 2025 with an estimated value of GBP 130 million drew no suitable bids, so in July 2026 the MoD selected Tekever's AR5 in a sole-source award worth up to GBP 400 million over ten years. Up to 24 aircraft, built at a new Tekever facility in Swindon, are planned for delivery by 2029, with the first systems due to enter service in late 2026.