Swindon
Wiltshire town gaining Britain's largest drone factory by footprint, Tekever's 254,000 sq ft Swindon site.
On 21 July, Tekever named Swindon as the future production site for its AR6 heavy-lift drone from the end of 2026, placing the Wiltshire town in Britain’s military drone supply chain.
Last refreshed: 1 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Swindon
Mentioned in: UK awards Tekever up to £400m for AR5
Drones: Industry & DefenceSet to build AR6 from end-2026 at the 254,000 sq ft site
Drones: Industry & Defence: Tekever climbs weight classes with AR6£5bn UK drone plan follows Healey exit
Drones: Industry & DefenceBackground
Swindon hosts Tekever’s 254,000 sq ft drone-manufacturing site, described as Britain’s largest by footprint. The Wiltshire town gives the manufacturer a physical base for aircraft production, rather than serving only as a location in national procurement announcements. Tekever’s 21 July statement placed future AR6 production at Swindon.
Tekever presented the AR6 as a heavy-lift autonomous drone family with a 200kg payload and a 500km range. Planned manufacture links Swindon to the company’s expansion beyond its established intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance work.
Swindon prepares for AR6 production
On 21 July, Tekever said its AR6 heavy-lift drone family would enter production at Swindon from the end of 2026. That gives the town a direct role in the company’s move from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance drones towards platforms pitched for the Apache loyal-wingman requirement.
Six AR5 aircraft form the first stage of the Ministry of Defence’s 16 September arrangement with Tekever, worth up to £400m. The order does not identify Swindon as the AR5 line, but it increases the importance of the manufacturer whose new AR6 work is due there.
What is being built in Swindon's new drone factory?
Why did Tekever choose Swindon for its factory?
How many jobs will Tekever's Swindon factory create?
Is Swindon's Tekever factory really Britain's largest drone factory?
