Portugal Debuts Heavy-Lift Drone That Can Carry 200-Kilogram Payloads

AR6 is a heavy-lift autonomous drone with a 200-kilogram payload capacity and 500-kilometer range.

Portuguese firm TEKEVER is pushing autonomous logistics forward with the AR6, a heavy-lift drone designed to transport 200-kilogram (441-pound) payloads across distances of up to 500 kilometers (311 miles).

The aircraft features advanced mission autonomy for multi-platform swarming, crewed-uncrewed teaming, and improved survivability.

It is designed to continue operating even when Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are unavailable or degraded, reducing reliance on satellite-based positioning.

AR6 is intended to support casualty evacuation, frontline resupply, and crewed-uncrewed teaming, including concepts being explored under the UK’s Project Nyx for Apache helicopters.

“AR6 represents the next evolution of our autonomous capability. For years, we’ve helped customers move information,” said Ricardo Mendes, chief executive officer of TEKEVER.

“Today, we’re extending that capability to move what matters most. Autonomous Lift opens a new category of missions for TEKEVER and, more importantly, for our customers.”

Path Toward Deployment

The unveiling marks an expansion for TEKEVER, which is best known for its work in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.

The heavy-lift drone market is dominated by systems that carry payloads of up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) over distances of just 1 to 5 kilometers (0.6 to 3.1 miles).

The company aims to address these limitations with a platform designed around a “lift more, fly further” approach focused on increasing payload capacity and operational range.

Jointly developed with small and medium-sized enterprise partners from the UK, the AR6 is set to enter production this year at TEKEVER’s facility in Swindon, England.

“The future of autonomy is about delivering operational outcomes,” said Karl Brew, head of TEKEVER UK. “AR6 expands the envelope, enabling us to leverage all of the experience we have built up in Ukraine and around the world into a whole new set of use cases. “

Source: MNextGen Defence