OVES Enterprise, a Romanian software development company with expertise in complex software solutions and AI innovations for the aerospace, defence, and cybersecurity industries, has unveiled its Sahara Autonomous System project, described as the first cruise missile developed in Romania by a private company.
Announced in November 2025, the Sahara project is now in an advanced stage of development. The missile was designed as a fully integrated system, in which both the hardware architecture and Nemesis AI, the artificial intelligence platform developed by OVES Enterprise, were conceived together within a technology framework built entirely in Romania.
Nemesis AI runs in on-premise mode, allowing rapid configuration of AI models, flight profiles, and operational parameters within the facilities operating the system. The missile can be loaded with a mission-specific AI model, enabling it to adapt its trajectory and response in real time.
SAHARA is designed to fly at low altitudes, around 50 metres, following terrain-adaptive trajectories to reduce radar detection. With the exception of the turbojet engine and optical sensors, all internal components are developed by OVES Enterprise, including the fuselage, electronic boards, processing units, control systems, and the infrastructure running Nemesis AI.
The missile weighs 55 kilograms, including a 10-kilogram payload. The installed turbojet engine provides 310 newtons of thrust, while 20 kilograms of fuel allow for an estimated range of around 200 kilometres in the current version. The projected speed can reach up to 0.85 Mach, depending on the final fuselage configuration. Future phases include medium-range versions with an operational range of approximately 500–600 kilometres and long-range versions of around 900–1,100 kilometres, company representatives said.
OVES Enterprise said it has invested more than EUR 1 million in the project to date, with an additional budget of approximately EUR 2 million planned for optimisation and testing phases. The initial demonstration is scheduled for May 2026, while a full capabilities presentation is planned for the end of next year.
“Sahara is the result of a natural evolution of the expertise we have built in recent years in complex software, artificial intelligence, and aerospace and defence projects. The strategic partnerships developed internationally have given us the necessary framework to understand the standards, rigour, and level of integration required by such a system. Through this project, we are advancing the capabilities already validated in previous collaborations and integrating them into a complete architecture developed locally. Our objective is to build a robust system aligned with international standards, demonstrating that Romanian expertise can support highly complex projects in strategic fields,” said Mihai Filip, CEO of OVES Enterprise.
The project is being developed by a team of 25 engineers and researchers specialised in artificial intelligence, avionics, hardware, flight systems, and testing. OVES Enterprise is currently reviewing co-production proposals for the next development stages, tailored to the requirements of potential clients.
