A major drone factory will open in Swindon, creating one thousand skilled jobs and boosting UK manufacturing. Operated by Tekever and spanning two hundred and fifty-four thousand square feet, the site is opening in 2026. It will cover rapid prototyping, series manufacturing and research, moving core AR5 production to Britain while scaling output of the AR3 StormShroud platform.
Skilled Jobs and Local Supply Chains
Swindon has long had ties to defence manufacturing, and the new facility aims to turn that heritage into lasting careers through apprenticeships and local hiring. Public investment in defence has increased, with the goal of spreading gains across regions and supply chains. For context, see the Defence Industrial Strategy, which explains how the government and industry plan to build capacity.
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What the Facility Will Build
Tekever says the factory will assemble airframes, avionics and payloads while expanding testing and quality assurance. The move brings larger-scale production of AR5 to the UK and consolidates AR3 StormShroud capability used by the Royal Air Force. The company ties this step to its Overmatch programme, focused on faster development and advances in autonomy and artificial intelligence to lift endurance and reliability.
Officials also point to spillover benefits for colleges and toolmakers, since steady orders support apprenticeships, labs and test ranges. As suppliers cluster around the site, transport links and warehousing are likely to see upgrades, helping the region capture long-term value from a growing aerospace supply chain.
