Auterion has successfully completed development of its Artemis long-range strike drone, created under a US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) initiative to advance next-generation unmanned strike capabilities. The new platform bears design similarities to the Iranian-built Shahed-series drones used by Russian forces in Ukraine, but incorporates advanced Western technology and modular architecture for greater precision, survivability, and interoperability.
The Artemis drone boasts an operational range of 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) and is capable of carrying a 40-kilogram (88-pound) payload. It is equipped with the Skynode N mission computer, a Visual Navigation System designed to maintain functionality in GPS-degraded or denied environments, and a terminal guidance module that provides visual targeting for high-accuracy strikes. These systems combine to enable the drone to operate effectively in contested or jammed airspaces.
Built on an open-architecture framework, Artemis allows seamless integration with existing command networks and other defense systems, while ensuring scalability for future software and hardware upgrades. The drone was developed and tested in Ukraine in partnership with a local defense manufacturer, whose identity remains undisclosed for security reasons. The program leverages Auterion’s prior experience in supplying AI-enabled precision strike kits to Ukrainian forces.
US government evaluators conducted comprehensive operational flight trials, including tests on ground launches, long-distance navigation in both GPS-enabled and GPS-denied conditions, and terminal strike accuracy. Feedback from these trials informed key design refinements, resulting in a production-ready configuration. Manufacturing lines are now being established in the United States, Ukraine, and Germany to support upcoming deployment and allied export opportunities.
