The Romanian defense industry was represented at this week’s NATO Summit in Ankara by companies developing state-of-the-art military technologies, including autonomous systems based on artificial intelligence.
Among the participants was Cluj entrepreneur, Mihai Filip, founder and CEO of OVES Enterprise, a global software engineering company that produces drones and develops software solutions for defense.
The agenda there was dominated by the themes of security and strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank. Romanian defense industry representatives sent a clear message: investments in technology and domestic production must be made before a crisis occurs
“We saw in Ukraine that in the event of a conflict you can rely on what you have at home, not on what you can buy and what can be delivered to you in a year, two or three. It is not possible to invest in three start-ups tomorrow and claim that in six months you will have a technology that can defend the Easten flank,” Mihai Filip told cotidianul.ro
The presence of OVES Enterprise at the NATO Summit in Ankara confirms the increasingly important role that the Romanian technology and defense industry is starting to play in the development of the Alliance’s security capabilities, in a geopolitical context in which investments in domestic production and artificial intelligence are becoming essential.
Artificial intelligence changes the rules of war
The company which was founded in Cluj in 2015 develops artificial intelligence components for modern defense systems, used in drones, anti-drone systems and cruise missiles, Faclia reported.
Mihai Filip believes the evolution of technology will significantly reduce the role of the human operator on the battlefield.
“Imagine that in the future we will not need human operators or, or even if we have them, they will have a much easier life and work, because artificial intelligence will help shorten the reaction time in the event of a conflict,” the entrepreneur explained.
Technology tested directly on the front in Ukraine
OVES Enterprise has been collaborating since the war started in neighboring Ukraine in 2022 with some of Ukraine’s most important defense companies, an experience that has allowed the equipment to be tested in real combat conditions.
“We are making technology for Ukraine and together with Ukraine. We have three important partners there and we learned a lot from each other. The most important thing is that we managed to test the technology in a real conflict, not just in the laboratory. Drones, anti-drone systems, cruise missiles and all the solutions we develop are tested on the battlefield. We have been with them since the beginning of the war and we will be there until the end,” he said.
From a start-up in Cluj to a global brand
Founded in 2015 in Cluj, OVES Enterprise has become in the last decade one of the most well-known Romanian brands in the field of software and advanced technologies. The company currently has offices in seven countries and approximately 400 employees, developing projects in areas such as cybersecurity, aerospace, automotive, fintech, telecom and e-commerce.
From 2023, the company expanded its activity by launching a division dedicated to the production of drones and military technology.
OVES Enterprise is the largest company in the group of companies founded by Mihai Filip, which also includes businesses in construction, advertising, Services medical services, transport and several technology start-ups.
AI increases productivity by up to 30%
Mihai Filip believes that AI will become a major competitive advantage for companies that adopt it.
“An employee who uses AI will be ahead of one who doesn’t because he is more productive. At OVES we managed to increase productivity by 20-30% with the help of AI. Repetitive jobs will disappear, but others will appear, which are better paid and require creativity,” he says.
He states that success in entrepreneurship is linked to perseverance and the ability to constantly innovate.
“I learned a lesson: even if I have a big challenge in front of me, I have to continue. When you are an entrepreneur you work 24 hours a day, especially if you work in multiple time zones. I like innovation and I like to create”, he admits. .
SAHARA, the first Romanian cruise missile guided by artificial intelligence
Earlier this year, OVES Enterprise presented SAHARA, the first autonomous offensive cruise missile developed in Romania and guided entirely by its own AI system.
Intended for the concept of “software-defined warfare”, the rocket uses advanced algorithms to analyze and merge data in real time, identifying and hitting targets with precision.
The prototype, made of 3D printable composite materials, weighs 55 kilograms, can reach speeds of about Mach 0.86 (about 1,000 km/h) and is available in configurations with ranges of 250, 600 or up to 1,000 kilometers.
The company’s CEO estimates that the system will be ready for the first orders by the end of the year.
“I think the product will be a very innovative one. I think it is the future of modern warfare,” Filip said in an interview for monitorulapararii.ro
Lessons from the war in Ukraine: the future belongs to long-range weapons
Contrary to the attention paid to FPV drones, Mihai Filip claims that the dominant trend in future conflicts will be long-distance strikes.
“The future war will no longer be about small FPV drones. It will be about long range,” Filip said in the interview.
Experience gained in Ukraine and the Middle East confirms the importance of deep attack capabilities, he says.
Asked what are the priorities for strengthening national defense, Filip indicated three main directions: tactical radars capable of detecting modern threats of small dimensions; air defense systems; drones and long-range ammunition for deep strikes.
“In addition to seeing the threat and protecting yourself from it, you also have to be able to attack,” he says.
Geographical references
“We are here to sign certain partnership contracts with well-established companies in the region. Specifically, we are trying to strengthen maritime and air borders. We want to see how we can collaborate, to have open discussions with NATO representatives and government representatives, to see what is missing,” Mihai Filip told digi24.ro
Also, Mihai Filip said that the fact that Romanian companies are present at the Defense Industry Forum in Ankara shows that it is a step forward. “It’s a first step, I think we have to insist and I think that after we return home we have to take the work there and start collaborating more, talking more,” he said.
“Of course, we need a lot of investment, we will have to invest in the future if we want to have continuity. The Government must help us more and the Ministry of Defense must support us more. (…) You can’t rely only on what you can buy outside Romania’s border”, Mihai Filip, quoted by digi24.ro
