2 min read - 16 Sep, 2025
UK’s largest drone factory to open in Swindon
A major new drone production facility is to open in Swindon next year, creating 1,000 highly-skilled jobs and apprenticeships in the UK.
Operated by Tekever, the new 254,000 square foot factory will bring large-scale production of Tekever platforms to the UK, including the Royal Air Force’s StormShroud capability. The site will be its fourth location in the UK and largest to date.
In May, the Prime Minister announced an additional £19m of investment in Tekever’s AR3 StormShroud drones for the Royal Air Force.
Tekever’s new facility will support the full drone production lifecycle, including research, development, rapid prototyping and manufacturing. It will bring core production of the AR5 unmanned aerial system to the UK for the first time, while scaling up existing work on the AR3 platform.
Drone manufacturer Tekever is to open its fourth UK site next year, creating 1,000 highly skilled jobs in the UK / Picture: Getty/iStock
Karl Brew, director of Tekever Defence, said: “Our decision to establish a new facility in Swindon reflects Tekever’s commitment to the UK and to the ambitions of the £400 million Overmatch programme. The site will play a central role in the production of our new AR3 EVO system and in creating up to 1,000 highly skilled jobs over the next five years. This investment will ensure we deliver advanced, sovereign capability at pace and in close partnership with the UK defence ecosystem.”
The new facility builds upon Tekever’s acquisition of West Wales Airport and marks a critical next step in the delivery of Tekever’s strategic investment programme Overmatch, which is designed to transform the UK’s defence capabilities by accelerating innovation in AI and autonomy.
The new site will bring core production of the AR5 unmanned aerial system to the UK for the first time, while scaling up existing work on the AR3 platform / Picture: Getty/iStock
This latest news comes as figures show government investment in UK defence industries reached £31.7bn last year and follows the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to make defence an engine for growth across the UK.
John Healey MP, defence secretary, said: “This new factory is a clear demonstration that this government is making defence an engine for growth across the UK. Tekever’s expansion will bring high-skilled jobs and world-leading drone manufacturing to Swindon, while strengthening defence supply chains. By backing Britain’s defence industry, we strengthen both our economy and national security.”
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK has purchased approximately £270m of Tekever drones to provide to Ukraine, including contributions from international partners through the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine.
