STM, one of the leading defence industry companies in Turkey, signed an export contract with an undisclosed customer for KARGU Rotary Wing Attack Drone Systems.
A developer of globally competitive, innovative high-tech products, STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. has now recorded its first export success in the field of tactical mini UAV systems, after having made its mark with Naval Platforms.
Developed by STM, an affiliate of the Presidency of Defence Industries of the Republic of Turkey (SSB), KARGU was introduced to the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in 2018, and has since been upgraded in line with direct feedback from multiple end users. Capabilities of the combat proven KARGU platforms have attracted the attention of potential export customers, and the system has undergone numerous tests and trials in various geographical conditions in different countries. Upon obtaining successful results, first export contract for KARGU was signed with an undisclosed customer. The KARGUs to be exported under the said contract are to be delivered within 2021.
“We will continue providing solutions to Turkey’s friends and allies”
Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, President of Defence Industries of the Republic of Turkey said:
“Developed by STM, Turkey’s leading company in the field of Tactical Mini UAVs, and utilised effectively by the Turkish Armed Forces in the field, the export of KARGU is a new achievement for us. We will continue to offer military products produced by the Turkish defence sector that have proven track records to the service of friendly and allied nations.”
“We strive for developing the defence capabilities of friendly nations”
Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, said:
“One of the leading companies in Turkey in the field of naval platforms and tactical mini-UAV systems, we keep moving forward while sharing our accumulated knowledge with friendly and allied nations. Having proven itself in combat, we have begun the export of KARGU, which we have developed by drawing upon our substantial engineering capabilities. Our negotiations with other countries for the export of KARGUs are continuing. In every project implemented, we, as a company, attach great importance to cost-effective, uninterrupted technical support and knowledge transfer. Not only do we sell products, we also establish grounds for cooperation and the enhancement of the defence capabilities of friendly and allied nations.”
Fully human-controlled Operations
KARGU Rotary Wing Attack Drone is designed to provide tactical range ISR and precision strike capability for ground troops operating in high-risk areas of operation. The system can be deployed and operated by a single personnel and is effective against both static and mobile targets thanks to the indigenously developed flight control suite and the target recognition system.
KARGU platforms are designed to be operated in line with the “Man-in-the-Loop” principle. Each mission (both ISR and Precision Strike) is performed under the complete control of the human operators, limiting the platform’s autonomy to navigational purposes only. KARGU platforms are designed to be operated by day or night, through EO and IR sensors. The system has “mission abort”, “return to home” and “self-destruct functions” as well as jamming countermeasures for signal distruption.
STM’s R&D programs for the Swarm UAV Operations are also successfully continuing. The KERKES Project by STM, which will enable UAV platforms to operate independently of GPS, is continuing and the tests are looking very promising so far. Lastly, it is confirmed by STM that there are works in the way for developing multiple different warheads for KARGU and ALPAGU Attack UAV Systems.
KARGU TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Range : <5/10 km
Endurance : <30 minutes
Warhead : <1.3 kg
Thrust : Electric
Take-off/Launch: Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL)
