OVES Enterprise, a Romanian technology company specialising in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence applications, with experience in drone development and manufacturing, and EDRONE, one of Ukraine’s largest drone manufacturers, are expanding a partnership established during the early years of the war and laying the foundations for the joint production of military drones in Romania.
The project involves the opening of a production facility in Cluj-Napoca, the integration of Nemesis AI technology and the transfer of the processes and know-how required to expand production.
The collaboration aims to develop an industrial capability in Romania that can support growing demand in Romania and other European countries, as well as Ukraine’s current requirements. The partnership leverages both companies’ experience in the development of drones and autonomous systems. OVES Enterprise contributes its proprietary technologies, including the Nemesis AI platform, as well as its experience in drone development and manufacturing, while EDRONE complements these capabilities with operational experience and know-how acquired through serial production and the deployment of systems in real combat conditions. Together, the two companies aim to contribute to strengthening the defence industrial base in Romania and across Europe.
“Europe needs its own production capabilities, and Romania must build a genuine industrial role within this ecosystem rather than remain solely an end market. The partnership with EDRONE brings to Romania experience gained directly on the frontline, validated production processes and the ability to rapidly scale the manufacture of systems that have already been tested under real-world conditions. We contribute the technologies developed by OVES Enterprise – from autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to the integration of the Nemesis AI platform into the drones manufactured in Romania – so that they meet current operational requirements and support the security of Romania and Europe,” says Mihai Filip, CEO of OVES Enterprise.
Three models already validated on the battlefield
During the first stage, three types of military drones will be manufactured in Cluj-Napoca: FPV drones, interceptor drones and reconnaissance drones.
The first units manufactured in Romania are scheduled for public unveiling this autumn, after which they will undergo testing and live demonstrations. The production portfolio at the Cluj-Napoca facility may subsequently be expanded to as many as 27 models, depending on market demand and the evolution of defence procurement programmes in Romania and across Europe.
The drones manufactured in Romania will integrate Nemesis AI technology developed by OVES Enterprise, including capabilities for target identification, classification, tracking and lock-on, terminal guidance and situational analysis. The integration of artificial intelligence is intended to reduce response times, improve accuracy and adapt the systems to the current requirements of military operations.
The entire manufacturing process carried out in Romania
The production facility in Cluj-Napoca is designed to cover the entire manufacturing process, from component integration and the installation of systems developed by OVES Enterprise to configuration, testing and mission preparation. The drones will leave the facility fully equipped and ready for operational deployment.
During the first stage, the partnership is targeting a production capacity of approximately 1,000 units per month. The initial team will comprise around 30 people, while local personnel will receive training in the processes and models introduced into production in Cluj-Napoca.
“The infrastructure required to begin operations is already available, allowing production to start without a major initial investment. EDRONE will transfer the manufacturing processes and know-how, while OVES Enterprise will coordinate local operations, technology integration and the adaptation of the systems to customer requirements,” adds Mihai Filip.
As orders and procurement programmes materialise, the two companies plan to expand production capacity and make additional investments in Romania.
“The experience of recent years has demonstrated that development speed, production capacity and the continuous adaptation of technology are essential in the military drone industry. Our collaboration with OVES Enterprise allows us to transfer to Romania a production model built and validated in Ukraine and combine it with the technologies developed by OVES Enterprise. Romania can therefore become an important production hub for the European market and for Ukraine,” says Viktor Yevpak, founder and CEO of EDRONE.
Large-scale production capacity
In the medium term, the two companies aim to develop a production capacity in Romania of between 10,000 and 15,000 units per month, depending on the orders received and the requirements of defence programmes.
Local production will enable the systems to be manufactured, integrated and tested within the European Union and will contribute to the development of a European defence industrial base capable of responding more rapidly to operational requirements and reducing dependence on suppliers from outside the continent.