TEKEVER has acquired Flowcopter for an undisclosed amount, adding the Scottish developer’s hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology to its unmanned aerial systems portfolio. The deal transfers Flowcopter’s engineering team and intellectual property to TEKEVER, which will integrate the platform into its existing operations.
Flowcopter was founded to address the limitations of battery-electric drones in heavy-payload, long-endurance missions. Its hybrid system combines a turbine-driven powertrain with rotorcraft design, enabling flights that current electric models cannot sustain, particularly in offshore logistics and humanitarian aid. The company’s aircraft are built to operate in extreme environments where electric motors often fail, offering a lower-cost alternative to helicopter use while cutting emissions.
TEKEVER, a provider of aerial intelligence and surveillance solutions, has focused on fixed-wing and multi-rotor systems for maritime and defence applications. The acquisition gives TEKEVER access to a platform capable of carrying significantly larger payloads over longer distances than its existing drones. This expands its ability to serve clients in sectors such as search and rescue, cargo delivery, and infrastructure inspection, where endurance and robustness are critical.
The strategic rationale centres on complementarity. Flowcopter’s hybrid VTOL technology fills a gap in TEKEVER’s product line, which previously lacked a heavy-lift option. By absorbing Flowcopter’s expertise, TEKEVER can accelerate development of a production-ready aircraft without building the capability from scratch. For Flowcopter, the deal provides the manufacturing scale and customer network of a larger organisation, addressing a common hurdle for early-stage hardware firms.
The combined entity is expected to pursue certification and initial deployments in offshore and emergency-response markets over the next two years. TEKEVER’s existing sales channels and operational experience should help bring the hybrid platform to commercial use more quickly than Flowcopter could have achieved independently. The acquisition also positions the company to compete in segments where helicopter replacement is a growing priority for cost and emissions reasons.