AR4 Light Ray UAV demonstrated for Colombian armed forces

Tekever has announced that it has completed a week of trials of its AR4 Light Ray unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the Colombian armed forces. The trials will help assess whether the UAV is a good match for the extreme altitude and weather conditions seen in Colombia.

The technical trials saw the AR4 Light Ray UAV perform at high altitudes of 3,000m (10,000ft) in the mountainous region surrounding Bogotá. The system’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities were validated during the demonstrations, as was the UAV’s ability to perform challenging scenarios in demanding weather conditions.

According to Tekever, Colombia’s intense military activity against guerrilla forces and narcotraffic groups demands UAVs capable of conducting effective ISTAR missions, while operating efficiently in a landscape characterised by extreme environmental conditions and dense vegetation. The company believes the AR4 Light Ray’s true air superiority fits the requirements of the Colombian armed forces.

Ricardo Mendes, Tekever Group COO, said: ‘The trials were a complete success. We met and exceeded the goals we had planned for, by demonstrating the usage of the system to perform multiple types of missions in one of the most challenging environments in the world.

‘After these trials, we are extremely confident that our system will be successful in fulfilling the special requirements of the Colombian armed forces.’