TEKEVER has acquired West Wales Airport (WWA) in Aberporth, securing a strategic site that will be developed into a national centre for the testing, evaluation, and advancement of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
The facility will support the rapid development of autonomous technologies for UK and NATO defence applications, providing a secure environment for flight trials, R&D, and collaborative innovation.
West Wales Airport offers immediate access to over 2,500 square miles of segregated airspace over land and sea, making it one of the most advanced environments in Europe for the testing and validation of UAS. Having operated from WWA since 2023, TEKEVER has already utilized the site for testing the full R&D lifecycle of the TEKEVER AR3 platform, including projects for the UK Home Office and Royal Navy.
This acquisition marks a pivotal step in the OVERMATCH initiative, which aims to provide a decisive technological edge through the deployment of autonomous, AI-enabled systems. A cornerstone of the programme is NETWORK, TEKEVER’s plan to scale advanced, accessible infrastructure for testing and evaluation across the UK. The move reflects the increasing importance of accelerated development and real-world testing environments, as evidenced by recent conflict-driven innovation cycles in Europe.
Ricardo Mendes, CEO of TEKEVER, said, “West Wales has long been central to our UK operations and global growth – allowing us to become part of thriving community, and have access to a fantastic infrastructure and amazing people. As defence spending rises and geopolitical threats grow, the demand for AI-driven autonomous systems is only increasing. Acquiring West Wales Airport strengthens our ability to meet that demand while advancing our OVERMATCH programme. This is just the beginning – we’re accelerating our investments and pushing forward at pace.”
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, commented, “TEKEVER is one of Europe’s leading and fastest growing companies in the unmanned aerial systems sector. Its acquisition of West Wales Airport in Ceredigion supports its ambitious expansion plans in the UK and will deliver significant benefits for the national defence ecosystem and regional economy of mid and west Wales alike.”
The facility will be made available to UK government agencies, allied defence partners, and industry collaborators, further embedding it in the UK’s defence innovation landscape. The expansion will also drive regional economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs and new opportunities for local businesses to support next-generation defence technologies.
