Press ReleasesSTM, Reliable Partner of the World’s Armies, to Exhibit Its Naval Projects and Tactical UAV Systems in the Gulf Region
STM, one of the leading companies in the Turkish defence industry, will exhibit its naval platforms and tactical mini UAV systems at the World Defense Show (WDS) to be held in Saudi Arabia. STM supplies NATO's second largest army, the Turkish Armed Forces, as well as the navies of friendly and allied nations with state-of-the-art warships.
Having played an important role in Türkiye’s recent breakthrough in the defense industry, STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. offers critical solutions in such areas as naval platforms, tactical mini UAV systems and cyber security. STM, a subsidiary of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye Defence Industry Agency, brings its experience, which has been gained through the company’s efforts to meet Türkiye’s needs, to friendly and allied nations through cooperation and technology transfer.
STM will take part in the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 to be held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on February 4–8, 2024, to showcase its combat-proven naval projects and tactical mini UAV systems in the Gulf Region.
Türkiye’s First National Frigate to be on Exhibited in Riyadh
At the exhibition, STM will display a model of Türkiye’s first national frigate TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), which is also the first ship in the MİLGEM İstif-Class project. The national frigate, of which STM is the designer and main contractor, has been recently delivered to the Turkish Navy. In addition to Türkiye’s first small-sized national submarine project STM500, the Pakistan Navy Fleet Tanker (PNFT), designed and built by STM for the Pakistan Navy and commissioned in 2018, will also be showcased to the WDS participants.
From among STM’s tactical mini UAV systems, Türkiye’s first national attack UAV, Combat Proven Rotary Wing Loitering Munition System KARGU, which has been exported to more than 10 countries in three different continents; the ammunition drop UAV BOYGA, which has already joined the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) inventory; and fixed wing loitering munition system ALPAGU, which has also achieved export success, will be on display at the STM booth.
Özgür Güleryüz: We’re Willing to Sign Collaborations in the Gulf
Commenting on the WDS 2024 Exhibition, Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, said:
“The Turkish defense industry has been achieving significant successes in the international arena, and STM plays an important role in this story. We develop innovative and modern technologies with our qualified human resources. We also transfer our capabilities to the Turkish Armed Forces as well as to countries on different continents. We are looking forward to building new collaborations based on our experience in the naval projects conducted for Türkiye, Pakistan and Ukraine, and with our tactical mini UAV systems, which have successfully proven themselves in real combat environments. We are planning to hold important meetings for new collaborations at the WDS exhibition to be held in Saudi Arabia, and we are looking forward to improving the defense capacities of friendly and allied countries.”
Production Aligned with NATO Standards
STM is engaged in collaborations, technology transfer and business development activities in more than 30 countries, from South America to the Far East. As part of its design, construction and modernization activities, STM develops flexible indigenous engineering solutions for the surface and submarine platforms of Türkiye – a NATO member with one of the most active navies in the world – and for the navies of friendly and allied nations, addressing specific needs and ensuring more effective mission performance. The systems successfully used in the field by the Turkish Navy are being exported overseas by STM as quality, affordable and modern engineering solutions. STM, with its long-term service support and indigenously developed weapon systems, makes a difference by offering its products and capabilities to navies of other nations in a way that embargoes cannot affect them.
STM, the Developer of Türkiye’s First National Frigate
The Turkish Naval Forces is making active use of the four MİLGEM Ada-Class Corvettes manufactured under a project in which STM was the lead subcontractor, undertaking various crucial tasks. STM, the designer and main contractor of Türkiye’s first national frigate TCG İSTANBUL, has delivered the ship featuring advanced electronic and weapon systems to the Turkish Navy. Work on the 6th, 7th and 8th MİLGEM ships, which will be the sister ships of TCG İSTANBUL, is going on under the STM-TAİS Joint Venture.
Besides, STM has delivered the Test and Training Ship TCG UFUK (A-591), built under a project in which it took on the main contractor role, at a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 14, 2022.
The Logistic Support Ship is another project being carried out under STM’s responsibility. TCG GÜNGÖR DURMUŞ (A-574), the first ship to be built in the Logistic Support Ship Project that was launched to meet a logistical need of the Turkish Naval Forces entered into operation in December 2021. The second ship, namely ÜTĞM. ARİF EKMEKÇİ (A-575), was delivered in early 2024. In addition, STM is the main contractor for the design of Türkiye’s Fast Patrol Boat Project.
Pioneering Submarine Projects
STM is also undertaking important tasks in the submarine modernization and construction projects of the Turkish Navy. Having successfully modernized two Ay-Class Submarines (Type-209/1200) in the role of main contractor, STM is now involved in the modernization of four Turkish Navy Preveze-Class Submarines (Type-209/1400) as the lead contractor. STM is also playing a critical role in the Turkish Navy New Type Submarine Project (Reis Class/Type-214) featuring an Air Independent Propulsion System, taking a significant step in the realization of the Turkish National Submarine Project. The company has achieved historic success in the project with the first-time local production of the head section (section 50) that houses the torpedo tubes, adding Türkiye to the short list of countries in the world with such a capability. STM’s small-tonnage submarine named STM500, which was developed with the company’s own resources, also attracts great interest from different parts of the world.
STM, the Choice of the Navies of Many Nations, From Pakistan to Ukraine
STM attaches great importance to cost-effectiveness, uninterrupted technical support and knowledge transfer in every project in which it is involved, creating collaborations that will enhance the defense capabilities of nations. Under a project including technology transfer, STM launched a corvette construction project for the Ukrainian Navy in 2021, and the construction of two Ukrainian Corvettes under the project is successfully on track.
In addition, STM designed the Pakistan Fleet Tanker PNS MOAWIN for the Pakistan Navy, and built it in Karachi. Constructed under Türkiye’s largest tonnage military shipbuilding project, the ship was delivered in 2018. STM, which is the main contractor in the modernization of Pakistan's Agosta 90B Khalid Class Submarines, has already modernized and delivered two of the submarines, while work on the third one is underway.
STM has gained the trust of the Pakistan Navy with the projects it has delivered successfully to date, and is currently involved in the construction of the four Ada-Class Corvettes being built by Türkiye for Pakistan, bringing all its engineering capabilities to the project for the procurement and integration of the main propulsion system.
Combat-Proven Tactical UAV Systems
The attack and surveillance UAV systems developed by STM using its own engineering and technological capabilities are being used to full effect by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the provision of border security, both at home and in international operations. The product range of STM, which develops and manufactures pioneering and competitive tactical mini UAV platforms for Türkiye and other countries in the world, includes Fixed Wing Loitering Munition System ALPAGU, Rotary Wing Loitering Munition System KARGU, Multi-Rotor UAS for Tactical Surveillance and Reconnaissance UAS TOGAN, Multi-Rotor Combat UAS with Mortar Payload BOYGA.
Considerable Interest in KARGU Among the World’s Armies
KARGU, which has been in TAF's inventory since 2018, achieved its first export success in 2021, and is currently in active use by more than 10 countries in three different continents. Negotiations are underway with different countries taking an interest in the product. The munition-dropping UAV BOYGA is another product of STM that is successfully serving in the Turkish Armed Forces. ALPAGU, on the other hand, stands out with its light structure, dive speed, low radar cross-section, speed and its ability to inflict point damage on critical targets. ALPAGU has also been exported to a country whose name has not been revealed. These modern warfare systems have already proven themselves successfully in the combat environment.
STM Booth Information for WDS 2024:
Hall: 1
Booth No: G3-1
Date: February 4–8, 2024
Venue: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
About STM
STM has been serving the Turkish defence sector for over a quarter of a century in such areas as engineering, technology and consultancy, working in fields that are critical for Türkiye and its allies. It applies its advanced capabilities and technologies to a broad range of strategic fields, ranging from naval platforms to tactical mini UAV systems, from satellites to cybersecurity, and from big data analytics to artificial intelligence applications.
