AI drone company acquires West Wales Airport
A company that develops and operate drones has announced the acquisition of West Wales Airport (WWA) in Aberporth.
TEKEVER uses AI to detect and predict threats across large and inaccessible areas and operates in fields including defence (including in Ukraine), environmental conservation, humanitarian relief, oil & gas industry (monitoring critical infrastructure).
Headquartered in Lisbon, the company is expanding into the UK, France and Ukraine.
TEKEVER has operated at West Wales Airport since 2023, testing and evaluating advanced unmanned systems for both domestic and international customers.
Development
The site was previously RAF Aberporth, a former Royal Air Force satellite station which used by the RAF Army Cooperation Command. During the 1960s Aberporth was also the HQ of the RAE Ranges Division.
In 2008, the airport underwent major improvements which extended the length of the runway from 945 to 1,257 m (3,100 to 4,124 ft).
The airport’s facilities have also supported test flights for customers including the UK Home Office and Royal Navy.
The acquisition is described by the company as a milestone in its £400m development programme for the UK, known as OVERMATCH, aimed at delivering competitive advantage through the development of autonomous, AI-driven technology for UK and NATO armed forces.
TEKEVER plans to expand the airport into a national hub for the testing and evaluation of unmanned systems, and will make the site accessible to UK government stakeholders, allied partners and industry collaborators
Central
Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, commented: “West Wales has long been central to our UK operations and global growth – allowing us to become part of thriving community, and have access to a fantastic infrastructure and amazing people.
“As defence spending rises and geopolitical threats grow, the demand for AI-driven autonomous systems is only increasing. Acquiring West Wales Airport strengthens our ability to meet that demand while advancing our OVERMATCH programme.
“This is just the beginning – we’re accelerating our investments and pushing forward at pace.”
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, added: “TEKEVER is one of Europe’s leading and fastest growing companies in the unmanned aerial systems sector.
“Its acquisition of West Wales Airport in Ceredigion supports its ambitious expansion plans in the UK and will deliver significant benefits for the national defence ecosystem and regional economy of mid and west Wales alike.”
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Acquires !
Once it was the hunted one now it is they who are the hunters…
One can imagine the War of the Worlds scenario, cue Jeff Wayne’s music…
Nearly 80 years of UAV interceptions launched from RAE Llanbedr…
Jindivik…Aussie for the ‘Hunted One’…
The new generation are about as sinister as it gets…
I thought Qinetiq had ownership or long term lease on the facility. On checking their website they continue to have a partnership – Long Term Partnering Agreement – with UK MOD. The website goes on to disclose that ….In May 2025, a five-year, £1.54 billion extension to the LTPA was announced, through which QinetiQ and MOD will partner to transform the provision of mission-critical test and evaluation capabilities and services that help to enhance operational readiness of the UK and allied nations
Sound point. Qinetiq and tekever are working on the same MOD project. As with most military projects, there is a supply chain of partners. Qinetiq obviously has its strengths and these guys bring hardware and AI analysis. Working with smaller companies is also good for tax purposes!
How soon will they be doing deals with Israel?