Taiwan eyes drone that helped Ukraine hunt Russian S-400, $2.5B assets

Taiwan is exploring local production of the European-made Tekever AR3 drone, which has played a significant role in Ukraine’s military efforts by aiding in the destruction of nearly $2.5 billion worth of Russian assets, including the advanced S-400 air defense system. The partnership between Portugal-based Tekever and Taiwan’s Apex Aviation was announced at the Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition in September 2025. The AR3 drone is a medium-sized, AI-driven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with modular payloads such as synthetic aperture radar and infrared sensors, capable of extended missions including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR). It has logged over 10,000 combat flight hours and is also used by the UK military for electronic warfare. The AR3 drone features a compact fixed-wing design with up to 16 hours of endurance and an optional beyond-line-of-sight datalink, making it suitable for maritime and land operations. A vertical takeoff and landing