U.S.–Ukraine long-range Shahed equivalent tested, mass production planned in three countries

Defense Express says the drone was developed with a Ukrainian partner (kept unnamed for security) and is now moving to mass production with U.S. Department of Defense backing.

Auterion describes Artemis as a 45-kg, 1,600-km “deep strike” loitering munition whose Skynode N onboard computer provides AI-based visual guidance. The company said testing “included ground launch, GPS and non-GPS navigation, long-range transit, and ground operation.” Auterion adds the system “allows the drone to guide itself and hit targets even when satellite navigation fails” and “ensures the highest accuracy in the final stage of flight,” Defense Express explains.

A single company photo labels the design Artemis ALM-20; its aerodynamic layout is reminiscent of the Shahed-136 but features a nose camera, extra antennas and — apparently — an electric motor. Defense Express notes smaller, similar drones have already been shown in Ukraine, and that an early, compact analogue was displayed during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s December 2024 visit.

Local demonstrations also surfaced: Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” publicly showed autonomous use of a small kamikaze UAS called SETH, which Defense Express says may be a smaller member of the Artemis family. Auterion itself stated “government experts approved the [Artemis] program after operational flight tests in Ukraine,” suggesting the ALM-20 could be an upscaled SETH variant.

Auterion told partners it is “moving to a scaling phase aimed at large-scale joint production,” with production lines to be built in Ukraine, the US and Germany. Defense Express says this positions Artemis as a potentially mass-produced, autonomous long-range weapon whose navigation performance — especially without GPS — is the program’s main selling point.