OVES Enterprise, a Romanian software development company with expertise in creating complex software solutions and AI innovations for the aerospace, defence and cybersecurity industries, is entering a new line of business and announces the development of its first autonomous cruise missile, a project that marks the company’s expansion into a new advanced area of defence technology.
The missile — developed internally under the name SAHARA Autonomous System — has been designed as an integrated system in which the hardware architecture and Nemesis AI are developed together. Nemesis AI runs in an on-premise mode, allowing rapid configuration of AI models, flight profiles and operational parameters within the facilities that operate the system. The missile can be loaded with an AI model prepared for each mission, having the capability to adapt its trajectory and reaction in real time.
“We built this project as a complete system, because real autonomy cannot be achieved otherwise. The way Nemesis AI operates is closely linked to the hardware architecture we control end-to-end: the electronics, processing units, flight controller and the structure on which the algorithms run. This level of integration is essential in scenarios where satellite navigation is disrupted through jamming (intentional interference) or spoofing (sending false signals). In such situations, the missile must maintain stability, direction and its ability to complete the mission. The initial tests show that this approach is correct, and the demonstrations in 2026 will highlight the maturity of the technology”, says Mihai Filip, CEO of OVES Enterprise.
SAHARA is designed to fly at low altitudes, around 50 meters, with a trajectory adapted to the terrain to reduce radar detection. With the exception of the turbojet engine and optical sensors, all internal components are developed by OVES Enterprise: the fuselage, electronic boards, processing units, control systems and the infrastructure on which Nemesis AI runs.
The missile uses an advanced data fusion system — Super Sensor Fusion — through which Nemesis AI continuously correlates information from multiple global satellite navigation systems and from onboard sensors. At intervals of approximately 200 milliseconds, the AI checks the integrity of the signals to identify attempts at interference or the transmission of false signals. If navigation becomes impossible, the missile automatically switches to a flight mode that uses data provided by the internal motion and orientation measurement system (IMU), maintaining stability and direction.
The missile weighs 50 kilograms, of which 10 kilograms represent the payload. The installed turbojet engine provides 310 newtons of thrust, and the 20 kilograms of fuel allow an estimated range of approximately 200 kilometers in the current version. The projected speed can reach 0.85 Mach, depending on the final fuselage configuration. In the next development stages, versions with medium operating range (approximately 500–600 km) and long range (approximately 900–1100 km) are planned.
The investment made by OVES Enterprise in the project exceeds one million euros, and for the planned optimization and testing phases an additional budget of approximately two million euros is expected. The initial demonstration is scheduled for May 2026, and the full capability presentation is planned for the end of next year.
The project is developed by a team of 25 engineers and researchers specialized in artificial intelligence, avionics, hardware, flight systems and testing. OVES Enterprise is currently analyzing co-production proposals for the next stages, adapted to the requirements of interested clients.