Jessica O'ConnorA major new drone production facility will open in Swindon in 2026, creating 1,000 high-skilled jobs and strengthening Britain’s defence manufacturing base.
The site, announced today by Defence Secretary John Healey, will be operated by Tekever and is set to become the UK’s largest drone factory.
It will support the full production lifecycle and will bring core production of Tekever’s AR5 unmanned aerial system to the UK for the first time, while scaling up work on the AR3 platform.
Healey said the move shows how “this government is making defence an engine for growth across the UK.”
He added: 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.”
The 254,000 sq ft facility builds on Tekever’s acquisition of West Wales Airport and is part of its £400m Overmatch investment programme to accelerate innovation in AI and autonomous systems.
It will be the company’s fourth and largest UK site.
Karl Brew, director of Tekever Defence, said the Swindon factory 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.”
Brew concluded: “This investment will ensure we deliver advanced, sovereign capability at pace and in close partnership with the UK defence ecosystem.”
