Tekever to Build Fourth UK Manufacturing Facility
A major new drone production factory is set to open in Swindon, creating 1,000 high-skilled British jobs and boosting sovereign manufacturing as the Government delivers the Plan for Change.
The new factory, operated by Tekever, was announced by the Defence Secretary John Healey, on a visit to the site. The factory is expected to open in 2026 and will position Swindon as a centre for UK drone manufacturing, creating skilled jobs and apprenticeships and showing the defence dividend of the Government’s record defence spending uplift.
This comes as figures show government investment in UK defence industries reached £31.7 billion last year and follows the launch of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will make defence an engine for growth, ensuring investment is felt by communities across the UK through new jobs and rising incomes for working people, putting more money in their pockets.
Swindon has strong historical ties to defence, helping to produce the Supermarine Spitfire in World War Two. This new site will now bring large-scale production of Tekever platforms to the UK — including the Royal Air Force’s StormShroud capability.
The new manufacturing facility is in The Spectrum Building, a historic, Grade II*-listed architectural icon designed by Sir Norman Foster, completed in 1982 and featured in James Bond film A View to a Kill in 1984. This fourth UK site marks TEKEVER’s efforts to bring scaled manufacturing of current and future TEKEVER platforms to the country – ensuring an increasingly efficient and resilient supply chain. The new 254 000 square foot site, its largest UK site to date, will comprise industrial and office facilities serving all elements of TEKEVER’s production lifecycle from rapid prototyping to the development of new platform concepts.
Designed to bring the core production of TEKEVER’s larger AR5 UAS to the UK for the first time, as well as increase the scale of the production of the AR3, including the new AR3 EVO version launched at DSEI 2025, the hub will bring manufacturing back to Swindon which has strong historical ties to defence – formerly helping to produce the Supermarine Spitfire in WWII. Through its site, TEKEVER will once again facilitate Swindon’s involvement in defending borders, as it hosts the production of sovereign defence systems.
In May, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an additional £19 million of investment by the Royal Air Force into Tekever’s AR3 StormShroud drones, underlining government support for home‑grown defence technology. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK has purchased approximately £270 million of Tekever drones to provide to Ukraine, including contributions from international partners through the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine. These drones have been used extensively in destroying highly advanced Russian air defence systems.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP 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.
Tekever’s new facility will be its fourth location in the UK and largest to date.
The 254,000 square foot site will support the full drone production lifecycle – from rapid prototyping to manufacturing and research and development.
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.
This builds upon the acquisition of West Wales Airport and marks a critical next step in the delivery of Tekever’s Strategic Investment Programme OVERMATCH, that is designed to transform UK’s defence capabilities by accelerating innovation in AI and autonomy.
Tekever’s arrival to Swindon aligns with the government’s broader economic strategy to foster high-tech hubs, drive inclusive growth and unlock new opportunities for local talent and supply chains.
Karl Brew, Director of Tekever Defence, said:
We are proud to contribute to the economic development of Swindon, a town with a strong manufacturing heritage and capability for much more. Our new facility will not only increase TEKEVER’s capacity to innovate and meet the rapidly evolving needs of our clientele, but also enable our business to operate more efficiently as we continue to scale our ambitions in line with our fervent commitment to transforming the UK’s defence industry into a leading powerhouse on the global stage.
Will Stone, MP for Swindon North commented:
“As MP for Swindon North, I’m incredibly proud that TEKEVER has chosen Swindon as the location for its latest UK expansion. It has been a pleasure to work alongside TEKEVER and the Swindon Borough Council to showcase the strengths of our town as the ideal base for such an innovative company to deliver its AR3 and AR5 UAS. This announcement supports my ongoing commitment to establishing a Drone Cluster of excellence in Swindon, creating highly skilled, well-paid jobs while also fostering new education and training opportunities for young people in our community.”
Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council added:
“I am personally delighted that TEKEVER has chosen the iconic Spectrum building as the home of its largest UK site and that it will conduct UAV testing and pilot training at the Science and Innovation Park in Wroughton, further embedding its presence within the Borough. TEKEVER’s decision to invest in Swindon is a huge endorsement of our recent efforts to attract cutting-edge companies to the area and the highly-skilled jobs they bring. We look forward to showcasing Swindon’s strategic strengths and innovation potential so we build a strong reputation as a national leader in defence manufacturing.”
Sources: UK Ministry of Defence; TEKEVER
