Fixed Wing Loitering Munition System ALPAGU Enters Türkiye’s Inventory

The Fixed Wing Loitering Munition System ALPAGU, developed by STM, has successfully completed its acceptance tests and has entered Türkiye’s inventory.

STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş., a leading defense company developing cutting-edge and modern systems for Türkiye, continues to expand its tactical UAV family, an area where STM has been a pioneer.

The fixed-wing loitering munition system ALPAGU, developed entirely with national resources by STM and also known to the public as a “kamikaze UAV,” has completed its domestic deliveries. ALPAGU had already marked its first export success in 2023, even before entering the domestic inventory.

Güleryüz: ALPAGU Will Boost Operational Superiority

STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz stated:

“Our family of tactical UAVs, developed with our advanced engineering capabilities to meet the needs of our country, continues to strengthen operational effectiveness in the field. Following our surveillance, loitering, and ammunition-drop UAVs, we are now continuing deliveries with our fixed-wing loitering munition system ALPAGU. We believe that ALPAGU will further enhance our operational effectiveness in the field.”

Light, but Packing a Punch

ALPAGU takes its name from an ancient Turkish word meaning “Brave man who attacks the enemy alone”, and is noted for its light structure, dive speed and low radar cross-section, as well as its ability to inflict pinpoint damage on critical targets. It has a range of 8 km, and has been designed to play an active role in counter-terrorism and cross-border operations and in urban warfare. The system has three components, namely a fixed-wing attack UAV platform, a launcher and a ground control station, and has the ability to operate effectively at day or night thanks to its electro-optical and infrared cameras.

After being launched from its launcher, ALPAGU is capable of flying for approximately 15 minutes, successfully tracking its target through an AI-supported, state-of-the-art image processing system. Thanks to its low radar cross-section and compact structure, ALPAGU remains undetected by the target until the final moment, precisely striking it with its onboard munition. Compliant with MIL-STD-331, ALPAGU features an electronic proximity fuse, as well as mission abort and self-destruction capabilities. With its image-processing-based fire control system, it provides high-precision strike capability against designated targets.

The system can be easily carried by a single soldier, and can be set up and launched in a combat zone within one minute, ensuring the element of surprise. Operational superiority is assured by its artificial intelligence and image-processing capabilities, its quiet operation and its ability to deliver its carried explosive precisely on target.

Multi-Launch and Multi-Mission Capability of ALPAGU

In addition to its superior features, ALPAGU stands out from its counterparts with its ability to be integrated onto various platforms — including land, naval, and air vehicles. Thanks to its network-based communication architecture (mesh network link structure), ALPAGU enables multiple platforms to be controlled simultaneously through a single ground control station, allowing the execution of multi-mission operations.

Only two platforms are being produced around the world with similar features to ALPAGU, which weighs less than 2 kilograms. ALPAGU navigates completely autonomously under the management of the mission computer and flight control system developed by STM engineers, and can detect and destroy targets under operator control based on a "Man-in-the-Loop" principle.

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