The interception happened in Bryansk
Russian forces have downed a Portuguese Tekever AR3 reconnaissance drone in the Bryansk region along the border with Ukraine. The aircraft was operating in the area under Ukrainian army control when it was targeted by a dedicated anti-drone unit. According to official reports from Russian state news, the drone was identified as an unusual and rare model, prompting further analysis.
A unit commander from the Russian anti-drone battalion described the captured drone as having a unique and unfamiliar design. He noted its distinctive structure at the tail and on the wings, which set it apart from other UAVs commonly used by Ukrainian forces. After confirming its origin as a Portuguese-made Tekever AR3, the drone was sent for detailed examination to assess its capabilities and engineering.
The drone's design will be studied
The downed AR3 arrived at the crash site in nearly intact condition, with the engine damaged but most of the airframe and fuselage remaining undamaged. Because of the drone's rare and complex build, Russian forces decided to send it to a research institute for in-depth analysis. Experts will focus on studying its technical specifications, structural design, and engineering features to better understand its performance.
The AR3 model manufactured by Tekever has a wingspan of nearly 4 metres, weighs only 25 kilograms, and can cruise at speeds between 75 and 90 km/h. With a communication range reaching up to 230 km, the drone functions like a highly sophisticated 'computer with wings,' as described by Ricardo Mendes, CEO of Tekever, in an interview with Euronews.
Tekever plays a role in Portugal's trade with Ukraine
Tekever, established in 2001, has become the largest Portuguese drone exporter to Ukraine. The company reported that in 2025, its exports generated over 85 million euros in revenue. As a result of this trade, Ukraine moved up rapidly in Portugal's export rankings, climbing from 75th place to 36th in just six years. The drone sales have significantly boosted bilateral economic ties between the two nations.
The Russian army described the interception of the Tekever AR3 as a 'challenging' operation. The drone was first detected by radar, then pursued in a 30-minute chase before being neutralized. The AR3, flying at an altitude of 2.5 km and moving at 90-100 km/h, maneuvered to evade capture. Despite the difficulties and low battery levels on the 'Lis' interceptor, the Russian forces succeeded in destroying the UAV.
The 'Lis' is a Russian-designed drone developed in Moscow for air interception missions. This small, fixed-wing UAV carries a warhead weighing about 1 kg and uses an automatic target acquisition system. After detecting a target with radar, it launches to pursue and lock onto the enemy drone's tail, detonating its warhead to eliminate the threat.
The commander of the Russian battalion, which operates the interceptor drone 'Lis' (Fox in Portuguese), explained to TASS that after they had shot down the Tekever AR3 it came down in one piece, although "the engine was damaged" while "the fuselage and most of the airframe remained intact". For that reason, and once they realised it was a 'rare' model, the UAV was transferred to a research institute. According to TASS, Russian specialists will study its design and its technical and engineering specifications.
The Russian army described the interception of this aircraft near the border was described by the Russian army as highly 'challenging'. According to the military, after the target had been detected by radar, the "Lis" interceptor began a chase lasting almost 30 minutes. The AR3 "was circling at an altitude of about 2.5 kilometres at a speed of 90–100 km/h, preventing them from closing in on it. On the final approach, the 'Lis' battery was running low, but the crew still managed to catch and destroy the Portuguese reconnaissance drone", the soldiers said.