On August 3, 2026, Russian troops announced the interception of a rare reconnaissance drone, the Tekever AR3, manufactured by Portugal. The drone was captured nearly intact and has been sent to a research facility for analysis of its design and technology.

The drone was intercepted by the Russian anti-drone battalion, which operates the Lis (Fox) interception system. According to the unit's commander, the drone unexpectedly entered their airspace, marking the first encounter with such a device. The commander stated, "We were surprised as we had never seen anything like it before. The drone's tail and wing structure were distinct. Upon reaching the crash site, we confirmed it was a Portuguese reconnaissance drone. Shooting down these UAVs is crucial because, firstly, they map out routes for enemy aircraft. Secondly, they seek our positions for potential attacks."

Despite being shot down, the Tekever AR3 remained largely intact. The soldiers reported that while the engine was damaged, the airframe, onboard equipment, and most of the structure were preserved. The drone has been transferred to a research institute where experts will study its design, specifications, and technical solutions.

The battalion also detailed the challenging interception mission. After detecting the drone via radar, a pursuit lasting nearly 30 minutes ensued. The UAV flew in circles at an altitude of about 2.5 kilometers, at speeds of 90-100 km/h, making it difficult for the Russian forces to close in. In the final approach, the Lis system's battery was nearly depleted, but the crew managed to catch up and successfully take down the reconnaissance drone.

The Lis is a specialized aerial interception UAV developed by engineers in Moscow. It is a small fixed-wing drone equipped with a 1 kg warhead and an automatic target acquisition system. After detecting a target via radar, the drone is launched to track the target, maneuvering directly into its tail to detonate the warhead and destroy the enemy UAV.