STM’s FPV Drone Hits its Mark with Accuracy in its First Test Firing

STM, one of the leading companies in the Turkish defence industry, unveils the First-Person View (FPV) Kamikaze Drone as a new force on the battlefield. Türkiye’s indigenous KARGU FPV Kamikaze Drone successfully hit its target in its first test firing.

STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş., which develops modern systems in line with Türkiye’s goal of a fully independent defence industry, is introducing to the market an indigenous FPV drone solution, as a growing force in modern warfare. STM continues to prove itself on the world stage, following up the development of tactical mini UAV systems such as KARGU, BOYGA and TOGAN with the launch of an FPV Drone after an extensive development period. At the culmination of the design and system, ammunition and fuze integration phases of the project, STM took FPV to the field for test firing, during which it hit the target group with 100% accuracy. STM named this system "KARGU FPV Drone".

Güleryüz: Adding Autonomous Capabilities to FPV Drones

Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, commenting on the operational capabilities STM is providing to security forces with its combat-proven mini UAV systems, said:

"We are now offering our FPV kamikaze drone family, a national and innovative solution, to the field. The first member of this family has been developed to meet operational needs, featuring an advanced military-security fuze and the ability to operate without being affected by electronic warfare. We are adding STM's autonomy and artificial intelligence-supported image processing and precision strike capabilities to our FPV Drone. The product we have developed, unlike its counterparts, is capable of marking its target with its autonomous terminal diving capability supported by image processing, contributing to pinpoint-precision strikes. We will add high autonomy and computer vision capabilities to future members of the FPV Drone family, thus creating an innovative range of FPV products."

Advanced Security, Autonomy and Precision Strike

The KARGU FPV Kamikaze Drone, which can serve as a deterrent force against dynamic threats in asymmetric warfare environments, is directed towards enemy elements with its operator-controlled real-time vision system and neutralises its target with anti-personnel ammunition. Its high manoeuvrability, effective day and night operation capability, and low radar cross-sectional area ensures the efficacy of STM’s FPV Drone against fixed or moving targets. The FPV Drone is equipped with an advanced military security fuze and integrated day and night camera, and can operate without being compromised by such electronic warfare effects as jamming/blinding. The platform offers automatic detonation at an adjustable distance through its distance fuze sensor, while its autonomous terminal diving capability, supported by image processing, marks the target and ensures a precise hit.

Technical Specifications

Range             : 10 km

Endurance      : 20+ minutes kamikaze mode

                        : 44 minutes observation mode (without ammunition and fuze)

Mission Altitude : 500 m

Maximum Altitude     : 5500 m (MSL)

Warhead                     : 1,300 gr Anti-Personnel (820 particulate balls)

Maximum Speed        : 160 km/h

Platform Take-off Weight: 3650 gr (with ammunition)

Operating Temperature Conditions: -20/+ 60 °C

What are FPV drones?

FPV (First Person View) Drones have shown their value, particularly during the Ukraine-Russia war, as a low-cost and effective attack tool that the operator flies through real-time images transmitted from drone's camera to a pair of smart glasses or monitor, directing it to the target for a precision strike.