U.S. Shortlists Two Ukrainian Deepstrike Producers for Artemis Program

The United States has selected four companies to participate in the Artemis long-range kamikaze drone program, including two collaborating with Ukrainian manufacturers, The Defense Post reports.

The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) selected AeroVironment, Dragoon, Swan, and Auterion to develop prototypes under the Artemis program.

Details on the Ukrainian companies involved have not been disclosed. However, previous reports indicated that they have positioned their technologies in partnership with U.S. companies Auterion and Swan, both of which are directly involved in the project.

The Artemis program aims to develop “adaptive” loitering munitions capable of operating in electronic warfare environments. The drones must be cost-effective and suitable for mass production and deployment.

Program requirements specify that the drones must be ground-launched with a range between 50 and 300 kilometers. They should be capable of rapid takeoff, low-altitude maneuvering, and carrying various payloads.

The drones must function in conditions involving system failures, communication loss, low bandwidth, and GPS denial.

Another key requirement is the ability to rapidly update and modernize in response to evolving threats and technological advancements.

The four companies were chosen through a competitive selection process that evaluated 165 proposals. Artemis prototypes are expected to be presented by the end of the fiscal year 2025.

It remains unclear how many suppliers will advance to the next phase following “aggressive” testing and demonstrations scheduled for later this year.

Militarnyi reported that, according to The Wall Street Journal, American defense startups have partnered with Ukrainian manufacturers to develop more advanced drones for the U.S. military.

“No American company is keeping up with Ukraine. Their developments work perfectly, and they have the best laboratory for testing all models in combat conditions,” Nathan Mintz, co-founder of the Southern California startup CX2, which last year signed an agreement to install its software and sensors on Ukrainian drones for combat testing, stated.