STM VTOL UAV “TURUL” Successfully Continues Test Flights

STM’s next-generation VTOL UAV, TURUL, featuring vertical take-off and landing capabilities, continues its test flight with high success. In the latest footage released from the field, TURUL VTOL demonstrated its prowess in moving and stationary target tracking, night operations, and high-precision QR code-based landing.

STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş., one of Turkey’s leading defense and technology companies, continues to test its indigenously developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The STM VTOL TURUL—a vertical take-off and landing system first unveiled at the IDEF-2025 Fair—has successfully cleared critical milestones in its field-testing phase. Optimized for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) missions and excelling in sub-cloud operations, the Fixed-Wing “STM VTOL” UAV System received full marks for its autonomous capabilities during recent test flights. The latest footage from the field showcases the TURUL executing autonomous take-off and navigation, followed by the successful tracking of stationary and moving targets, before concluding with a precision landing. While qualification testing continues, STM is simultaneously carrying out mass production readiness activities.

Combining its identity as a 'strategic hunter' and 'guide' from its mythological roots with modern technology, TURUL provides uninterrupted observation and dominance in challenging geographies.

Güleryüz: Providing Uninterrupted Surveillance with Sub-Cloud Operational Capability

Commenting on the successful ongoing testing of the TURUL system, STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz highlighted the platform’s significance in modern combat doctrine:

"In today’s defense ecosystem, the value of a platform lies not just in its flight capability, but in how rapidly and securely it processes data from the field. We have developed a solution that eliminates the need for runway infrastructure by combining the operational range advantages of our fixed-wing UAVs with the flexibility of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). Capable of taking off and landing from naval platforms or any land-based point, the TURUL VTOL provides uninterrupted intelligence without losing the video feed—even in harsh weather and missions requiring high altitude—thanks to its sub-cloud operational capability.

Equipped with high electronic warfare resistance and indigenous software, this system adds another cornerstone to our vision of full independence in everything from border security to the protection of strategic facilities."

Precision Landing with QR Code and mmWave Radar

The test flights successfully demonstrated the system’s QR code marker-based landing and mmWave radar support, enabling the TURUL VTOL to return to a designated point with millimeter-level precision autonomously. With a flight endurance exceeding 2 hours and a mission range of 200 kilometers, the system provides an end-to-end solution for tactical reconnaissance, area surveillance, and target acquisition

Extended Mission Endurance with TURUL

Developed by STM, the Fixed-Wing TURUL VTOL UAV System offers versatile utility for both military and civilian operations through its runway-independent structure and autonomous mission capabilities. Distinguished by its long endurance and high payload capacity, the system can autonomously perform ISR, munition drop, and surface mine detection missions. Capable of day and night operations via integrated EO/IR imaging systems, TURUL can be mission-ready in a short time with just a single operator.

Capabilities

• Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Intelligence (ISR)
• Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Capability
• QR Marker-Based Precision Landing
• mmWave Radar-Assisted Autonomous Precision Landing
• Real-Time Data Transmission via EO/IR Imaging Systems
• Long Endurance and Extensive Mission Radius
• GNSS-Denied / Anti-Jamming Navigation
• Mission Planning and Autonomous Flight Capability
• Day/Night Operational Capability

Technical Specifications

• Mission Range: 200 km
• Communication Range: 60 km (LOS)
• Operational Altitude: 2,000 m (MSL)
• Flight Endurance: 2 Hours
• Take-Off Weight: 35 kg
• Wingspan: 3.6 m
• Operating Temperature: -20 °C / +50 °C