AR4

The AR4 is a lightweight, man-portable mini unmanned aircraft system (UAS) developed by Tekever Autonomous Systems of Portugal, first flown in an undisclosed year. It is built for rapid deployment by a small field team and is marketed for close-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks.

Overview

The AR4 sits at the lighter end of Tekever's unmanned aircraft line, alongside the larger AR3 and AR5 platforms. Tekever, founded in Lisbon in 2001, moved into the unmanned aircraft systems market from 2010 onward, and the AR4 forms part of the company's early tactical UAS portfolio built for organic, unit-level surveillance rather than long-range or maritime missions, which are covered by the larger AR3 and AR5 systems.

Public technical documentation for the AR4 is limited compared with Tekever's AR5, and the manufacturer's current website does not publish a dedicated specification page for the model, unlike the AR5. Trade-press documentation describes it as a compact, quickly assembled airframe intended to give small units their own airborne surveillance capability without depending on higher-echelon ISR assets.

Design and capabilities

The AR4 has a length of 1.4 metres and a wingspan of 1.8 metres, with a maximum take-off weight of 5 kilograms and a payload capacity of about 2 kilograms. It is designed to be carried and operated by a two-person team, and can be launched by hand or with a bungee slingshot, with recovery by belly landing or parachute. It can be flown under remote control or operated in a fully autonomous mode using onboard GPS and inertial-measurement guidance.

The standard payload is a high-definition electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor. Documented optional payloads include additional infrared, night-vision and low-light sensors, as well as a signals-intelligence (SIGINT) package, allowing the airframe to be reconfigured for different reconnaissance roles. Public sources do not specify the AR4's propulsion system, maximum speed or service ceiling in detail.

Sourced performance figures give an operating range of about 20 kilometres and a base endurance of roughly 2 hours, which trade press describes as extendable to around 3 hours with an additional power module. These figures are consistent with a short-range, quick-reaction ISR platform rather than a persistent-surveillance system.

Operational history

Tekever has demonstrated the AR4 publicly, including flying displays at the Farnborough International Airshow. Coverage of the platform notes technical trials with the Colombian armed forces, but does not confirm the AR4 as an operational, fielded system with a named military customer, and no country or organisation is documented in the sources reviewed as a confirmed operator of the type. Tekever's broader customer base includes the Portuguese Navy, Army, Air Force and National Republican Guard, but public sources do not specify which of these services, if any, operate the AR4 specifically. Because of this gap in public documentation, the AR4's current production and fielding status cannot be stated with confidence beyond "in production," based on its continued presence in Tekever's and third-party UAS catalogues.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the AR4 weigh?

The AR4 has a maximum take-off weight of 5 kilograms, placing it in the mini-UAS category.

What is the AR4's operating range?

Sourced figures give an operating range of about 20 kilometres from the ground control station.

How long can the AR4 fly?

Base endurance is about 2 hours, reported by trade press as extendable to roughly 3 hours with an additional power pack.

How is the AR4 launched and recovered?

It can be launched by hand or with a bungee slingshot, and recovered by belly landing or parachute.

What sensors does the AR4 carry?

The standard payload is a high-definition EO/IR sensor, with optional infrared, night-vision, low-light and SIGINT payloads documented by trade press.

Who operates the AR4?

No country or military service is confirmed in public sources reviewed as an operator of the AR4 specifically, distinct from Tekever's broader Portuguese and export customer base.