Tekever’s AR5 Life Ray UAS selected to demonstrate first European maritime surveillance system

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) have selected Tekever developed AR5 Life Ray UAS, for the first European demonstration of a drone-based maritime surveillance system.

The flight test is being carried out under the ESA and EMSA’s RAPSODY programme in Malta, which will detect the movements of small vessels and monitor ship lanes for pollution.

Tekever CEO Pedro Sinogas said that the first demonstration will take place this summer over the Maltese waters of the Mediterranean Sea during the AUVSI Xponential show in New Orleans, Louisiana, US.

Sinogas said: "During the demonstration in Malta, Tekever’s systems will be deployed from land and will perform operations across a range of maritime scenarios during the four-six weeks of testing."

Fitted with both synthetic aperture radar and a satellite link, the AR5 Life Ray UAS is capable of delivering the endurance and payload of a larger system in a compact and flexible package.

AR5 has a wingspan of 4.3mm a payload of 50kg, and delivers performance of eight to 12 hours missions.

According to the RAPSODY programme, this system is all set for maritime missions, besides maintaining small logistics footprint.

Tekever will demonstrate operations in the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea across a wide range of environmental conditions.

The company owns the complete technological stack within the AR5 Life Ray platform.