Turkey’s defense industry continues to strengthen its global presence as STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. exports its nationally developed loitering munition systems, KARGU and ALPAGU, to Europe. Under a newly signed agreement with a country that is both a NATO and European Union member, these systems will be integrated into land vehicles in line with local operational doctrines and user requirements. With this milestone, STM’s UAV systems have now reached users across four continents and in 15 different countries.

This agreement goes beyond a conventional defense export. STM will not only deliver the platforms but will also carry out full-scale integration of battle management system software, ensuring compatibility with the customer nation’s existing infrastructure and operational concepts. As such, the project represents a high value-added export model focused on software, system integration, and cooperative engineering rather than simple hardware delivery. This approach is expected to serve as a key reference for STM’s future projects in the European defense market.

STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz emphasized that the tactical UAV family has proven itself in real operational environments, increasing international confidence in Turkish defense technologies. According to Güleryüz, the selection of KARGU and ALPAGU by a NATO and EU member state clearly demonstrates the level reached by Turkey’s engineering, autonomous systems, and software capabilities. Following the successful completion of the project, STM aims to expand the integration of its autonomous systems across a larger number of land platforms in the partner country.

KARGU Rotary-Wing Loitering Munition

Commonly referred to as a “kamikaze UAV,” KARGU has been in service with the Turkish Armed Forces since 2018. Its rotary-wing design, swarm operation capability, artificial intelligence–supported target detection, and GNSS-independent mission execution provide a significant advantage on the modern battlefield. The system allows rapid switching between anti-personnel and armor-piercing warheads, enabling flexibility across different mission profiles.

ALPAGU Fixed-Wing Loitering Munition

ALPAGU stands out with its fixed-wing structure, high dive speed, and low radar cross-section. With an operational range of approximately 8 kilometers, the system can conduct both day and night missions thanks to its electro-optical and infrared cameras. Launched from a portable launcher, ALPAGU uses AI-supported image processing software to track and neutralize targets with pinpoint accuracy. Its ability to be integrated into land, sea, and air platforms differentiates ALPAGU from many of its global counterparts.