Project Artemis includes the development and testing of long-range kamikaze drones, and the U.S. DIU has selected drone manufacturing companies from the United States and Ukraine.

The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) awarded four contracts under Project Artemis for the development and testing of long-range kamikaze drones resistant to GPS jamming and electronic warfare threats. The selected companies include two Ukrainian drone firms partnered with U.S. software companies Auterion and Swan, while U.S. drone manufacturers Aerovironment and Dragoon Technologies also received contracts. The project embodies some of the key lessons drawn from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and aims to strengthen U.S. military drone systems.

DIU reviewed 165 proposals in collaboration with the Department of Defense's Office of Acquisition & Sustainment before selecting finalists. This effort is consistent with the intent of a congressional directive to develop cost-effective loitering munitions capable of functioning in contested electromagnetic environments. Selected designs have already gone through flight demonstrations, while full-scale testing is expected to be done by May 2025.

While some drone configurations are still classified in different categories, DIU has published a list of fundamental requirements that drone technologies should fulfill, including ground launch, 50 to 300 km range of operation, low-altitude navigation, modular payload capacity, and compatibility with non-GPS environments. The initiative takes a step further in defining boundaries between loitering munitions and lower-cost cruise missiles, thus presenting more possibilities for further drone applications.

Project Artemis is significant in emphasizing the important role of these machines in modern warfare and the U.S. Army's demand for affordable, massively deployable precision weapons. Moreover, the project allowed concerns on the long-range munition stocks and worked to diversify suppliers from traditional defense contractors for its future rapid, scalable production capabilities in case of future conflicts.