Tekever launches new AR3 with Hot-Swappable VTOL UAS with integrated SAR.

Tekever, a leading drone-based maritime surveillance provider in Europe, launched the new version of its proven AR3 system, now with Hot-Swappable VTOL with integrated Synthetic Aperture Radar capabilities, during AUVSI Xponential in Orlando.
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AR3 with Hot-Swappable VTOLwith integrated Synthetic Aperture Radar capabilities (Picture source: Tekever)

With the new upgrade, the AR3 becomes one the most operationally flexible UAS in the market, and the smallest UAS to boast a high-performance, dual-side looking Synthetic Aperture Radar: "The new version of our vastly proven AR3 is a modular & transformable platform. Users no longer have to choose between having pure fixed-wing assets for longer endurance missions, or fixed-wing VTOL assets for more challenging deployment conditions. The AR3 combines both capabilities and provides users with the ability to decide the configuration just moments before takeoff.", explained Ricardo Mendes, Tekever's CEO.

The newly added Synthetic Aperture Radar provides the AR3 with a vastly greater operational range, and the ability to effectively detect, recognize and identify targets under any weather condition. Covering more than 20.000 square nautical miles, the new AR3 is the perfect tool for wide-area surveillance missions.

"Our SAR, which we named GAMASAR in honor of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, is designed and built by Tekever specifically to provide our customers with capabilities that are typically only available through much larger systems. With an extremely reduced logistics footprint, the unprecedented VTOL flexibility and the unique capabilities provided by GAMASAR, the new AR3 is a game-changer, that provides our customers with tremendous value and cost-effectiveness", added Ricardo Mendes.

AR3 with Hot-Swappable VTOLwith integrated Synthetic Aperture Radar capabilities (Picture source: Tekever)

Tekever AR3 is a small, long-endurance UAS designed to support a wide range of demanding land and maritime operations. The addition of the optionally VTOL capability increases its flexibility of deployment and reduces the logistics package. The VTOL capability is provided as an option and is hot-swappable, allowing the user to decide which configuration to use just before takeoff, depending on the type of environment and evolving mission requirements.

The AR3 is a widely used platform, that's been extensively operated in the most demanding maritime and land operational scenarios. Previous versions of the AR3 relied on a pneumatic catapult to launch and landed using a parachute and a protective airbag. With the most recent update to the platform, Tekever adds the ability to take off and land vertically, providing users with a very wide set of configuration options. If fitted with the VTOL option, the AR3 can fly up to 8 hours under real operational conditions with a full sensor package. Without the VTOL option, the endurance is increased to 16 hours.

All Tekever systems are fully interoperable and can be combined to provide unprecedented operational flexibility in the most demanding commercial, security or military scenarios. Operators trained on Tekever's unified Ground Control System are ready to operate all Tekever platforms, providing extreme flexibility in staff and crew management.